Loudoun Now for April 20, 2017 by Loudoun Now

LoudounNow LOUDOUN COUNTY’S COMMUNITY-OWNED NEWS SOURCE

[ Vol. 2, No. 24 ]

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A Pint-sized Pitchman

Apr. 20 – 26, 2017 ]

Williams Lays Out Path for Universal FullDay Kindergarten BY DANIELLE NADLER

itored the hallways, greeted students during their lunch break, and gave the morning announcements just as he always does, except he ended the announcements with a particularly loud and drawn out, “Goooo Titans!” “That was the first ‘go Titans’ we’d heard in awhile. A lot of students smiled and cheered,” Jackson said. “He was everywhere today—I don’t know how he did it,” Dominion English teacher Karrie Rinder said. It wasn’t just a business-as-usual thing, she added. “It was more like full speed ahead.” Brewer declined to comment to the press; likely being careful to not upset school system administration on his first day back. But the dozens of Brewer supporters who gathered for his “welcome back” party talked over one another as they described what the principal means to the Dominion community.

Just 18 months ago, full-day kindergarten was the most repeated three-word phrase on Loudoun campaign trails. Candidates running for local, state and even federal offices promised to push school leaders to hurry up and provide a full academic day to every kindergartner in the county. At that time, the then-newly appointed superintendent, Eric Williams, was criticized for not being able to deliver a price tag for what it would cost to provide universal full-day kindergarten, a program every other school division in the region offers. But Williams and administrators in the school planning and instruction departments have been at work behind the scenes. For the first time on Tuesday, they unveiled specifics about what obstacles stand in the way to expand the full-day kindergarten program and what it will take to get over them. Since 2014, the school system has increased its full-day kindergarten offerings from 11 percent to 52 percent. The plan for now is by this fall to provide a full school day to as many as 4,600 kindergartners, or 82 percent. But the trick will be getting that figure to 100 percent. That will take creative options to free up classroom space in fast-growing parts of the county where school buildings are already cramped. “To get to full-day kindergarten at a lot of these schools, we need to take some sort of action,” he said. In his presentation to School Board members Tuesday, Williams went through each of the district’s planning zones to explain what it would take to expand the program. There is space in every elementary school in the Western Loudoun and Eastern Loudoun planning zones. But the remaining planning districts—Ashburn, Central Loudoun (Leesburg area), Dulles North and Dulles South—have several elementary schools that will not have consistent space for full-day kindergarten through fiscal year 2021. In Ashburn, those schools are: Steuart

BREWER >> 10

KINDERGARTEN >> 25

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Dominion High School Principal John Brewer was greeted with hugs and cheers at a “welcome back” party Monday. It was his first day back on the job after he was suspended in December.

Brewer’s Back

Dominion Principal Welcomed with Open Arms BY DANIELLE NADLER

ohn Brewer started his day early Monday. He arrived at Dominion High School just after 7 a.m. And even before he could reach the front door, he was talking with students. Football players at an early-morning practice took a break to applaud their principal as he walked into the school. It was his first day back on the job after his three-and-half-month suspension. “He hugged and greeted every player by name,” junior Jackson Steele said. “We were really happy to see him.” Brewer, named Loudoun County Principal of the Year in 2010, was near-

ly fired last month. He was placed on leave Dec. 2, and Superintendent Eric Williams moved to terminate him. The superintendent’s decision followed a Florida news article that stated Brewer had written a letter of recommendation for former Dominion band teacher Brian Damron. Damron was later accused of making sexual advances toward a 15-year-old student there, although no criminal charges have been filed. In a split vote on March 20, the School Board technically terminated Brewer’s previous contract and, a minute later, rehired him as Dominion’s principal on a probationary period, with contracts to be renewed annually, for three years. Monday was the first day of his new contract. It’s as if the principal picked up where he left off, said students and teachers who threw their principal a “welcome back” party at a Mexican restaurant Monday evening. Brewer observed a few classes, mon-

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3 Apr. 20 – 26, 2017

Planning Commission Calls for Dulles Airport Noise Study

BY RENSS GREENE

he Loudoun County Planning Commission has recommended a new study of the high-noise zone around Dulles Airport, bucking the recommendations of airport officials and raising the possibility of allowing residential development in areas of the county where it was previously prohibited. In a letter calling for the new study, Commissioner Eugene Scheel (Catoctin) said the study should be undertaken by a firm with no financial stake in the area around Metro’s planned Silver Line stations in Loudoun or in county magisterial districts abutting the airport. He wrote that the study should in no way “hinder or delay” ongoing planning work around Loudoun’s future Metro stops, and that for now the county should work with the data it has. That data comes from a 1993 Federal Aviation Administration study that set out the noise contours the county would later codify in its planning, generally forbidding housing within a cer-

tain loudness contour; and from a 2005 environmental impact survey of noise around the airport. The county’s planning and zoning rules generally forbid residential development within the 65-decibel loudness day-night, or 65 LDN, contour around the airport. That contour predicts average noise levels around the airport based on numbers and types of aircraft, with a multiplier for nighttime flights. In wrapping up its work on the county’s Silver Line-area comprehensive plan amendment, the commission listed a new noise study as high priority, to be completed within one or two years. “I really think that should be one of the first things they should do,” Commissioner Cliff Keirce (Broad Run) said. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority representatives have discouraged the county from changing the noise contours in its planning documents. Some real estate interests and people with a stake in development around Loudoun’s future Metro stations have argued that those boundaries are based on out-of-date

assumptions about air traffic and place unnecessary restrictions on development around Dulles Airport. Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles), whose district includes the airport, said even conducting a study wouldn’t necessarily give the county useful information. “You wouldn’t know to the degree that is necessary to make any decision, and it would not be something that the FAA and the airports authority would agree upon unless they actually undertook it,” Letourneau said. He also pointed out—as he has in the past, and as airport officials have—that the noise contours the county uses are based on a theoretical maximum buildout of the airport. “I guess my point to everybody back then was, has something changed regarding the long-term buildout of the airport?” Letourneau said. Commissioners have also debated allowing more residential development near the county’s eastern Metro stop at the intersection of the Dulles Greenway and Old Ox Road, known as

Leaders talk solutions for crowded schools

Therapeutic riding center finds new home

DULLES NOISE >> 43

Leesburg Readies for Flower and Garden Weekend BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

FLOWER AND GARDEN >> 11

INDEX Loudoun Gov..................... 4 Politics............................. 6 Leesburg........................... 8 Public Safety................... 12 Education........................ 14 Biz.................................. 18 Nonprofit News................ 22 Our Towns....................... 26 LoCo Living..................... 30 Obituaries....................... 36 Classifieds...................... 37 Opinion........................... 40

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Internationally renowned horticulture expert Barry Glick will give a lecture on Woodland Wonders from the Wild from 7-9 p.m. The president and founder of Sunshine Farm & Gardens in Renick, WV, will have rare and hardto-find plants available for sale, and the first 100 attendees will receive the coveted Flower & Garden Festival tote bag before the festival even opens. Tickets for the Leesburg Historic Homes & Gardens Tour will also be raffled off, in addition to some books donated by Glick. “There’s a lot of good reasons to come to the presentation Friday night at the recreation center,” Fountain said.

Downtown Leesburg will celebrate the start of spring this weekend, with the popular annual Flower and Garden Festival. Now in its 27th year, it may be April showers that usher in the two-day festival, with chilly temperatures and patches of rain forecasted for both Saturday and Sunday. But event organizers are undeterred in their quest to again put on a topnotch production in the rain-or-shine affair. After enjoying two days of beautiful, warm weather last year, it may be a bit of a soggier affair this time around. But there still is something for everyone at the downtown event.

Linda Fountain, events and community outreach manager for the town’s Parks and Recreation Department, was fast at work this week nailing down all the last-minute to-dos and making sure all is ready for 5 p.m. Friday, when the streets close and vendors begin rolling in to set up. It’s that time of the weekend that is Mayor Kelly Burk’s favorite. “It’s really cool to walk down the street and see all the displays be put together,” she said. “The town slowly changes from a street to a garden center. It’s amazing to see what they do and how they do it.” Kicking off the festivities this weekend will be a new event at Ida Lee Park Recreation Center on Friday night.

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What’s possible on Town Hall campus?

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Contrails highlight the sky over Dulles Airport. Loudoun Planning Commission members want to know whether changes in aircraft technology and traffic projections continue to justify the county’s long-standing housing restrictions around the airport.

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Supervisors limit Old Ashburn townhomes

[ LOUDOUN GOV ]

[ BRIEFS ] Fire Marshal Rescinds Burn Ban

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Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

A view of Old Ashburn, from the porch of the old Partlow’s country store at the intersection of Hay Road, Ashburn Road, and the W&OD Trail.

Old Ashburn Townhouses Capped—With an Exception BY RENSS GREENE

oudoun supervisors have passed a rule designed to forestall dozens of new townhomes planned for Old Ashburn—with one exception. During deliberations last year over an application at Old Arcola School, the county discovered that a relatively scarce type of zoning district, scattered across the county, allowed residential building but had no cap on density. That meant, essentially, that developers could build as many townhouses in that zoning as they could fit on the lot. Now the county has adopted a rule capping townhouses in rural commercial zoning districts at four units per acre, similar to neighborhoods of single-family homes. Supervisors exempted site plans that had already been approved by county staff. Supervisors were under the gun to get the zoning amendment passed—applications to pack more than a hundred more townhomes into Old Ashburn had been filed with the county and were awaiting approval. Three more applications, totaling 34 units, had won approval between December 2014 and August 2016. One more application, Harry Saville’s application to build 16 units on his property, won conditional approval the day of the meeting and was also grandfathered. The historic Ashburn Colored School stands further up Ashburn Road on the same parcel. In all, the supervisors’ April 12 meeting was designed to block plans to build 115 townhouses in Old Ashburn, and another 69 units at the corner of Stone Springs Boulevard and Evergreen Mills Road. Despite the rush, getting to the vote took seven meetings. Since the board approved a resolution in September declaring its intent to amend the zoning rule, the amendment has been to a Planning Commission public hearing, a commission work session, a Board of Supervisors public hearing, and a board work session. Then, because of a gaffe with legally required notification of affected property owners, the rule went back to the commission for two more public hearings before returning to the board for yet another public hearing. The rule faced opposition along the way from the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association and developers with a stake in it. Brad Kline, the developer behind one of the applications, brought pictures of some of Old Ashburn properties to the board’s last public hearing.

The open burning ban that was placed into effect April 11 has been rescinded. The ban was lifted after a significant decrease in dangerous fire conditions. The current open burning restriction, known as the “4 p.m. law,” remains in effect through midnight April 30, 2017. Open air fires for leaves, tree, brush, yard and garden trimmings generated onsite are allowed only between 4 p.m. and midnight, except in the town limits of Leesburg, Lovettsville, Middleburg, Purcellville, Round Hill, and areas of Loudoun County that are part of a subdivision. Legally set open-air fires must meet local regulations, including: Fires must be at least 50 feet from a structure and pose no hazards to a roadway; fires must be reported to the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center at 703-777-0637 before ignition and when the fire is out; fires shall be attended by competent persons 18 years of age or older, at all times, with provisions for control and extinguishing available; fires must not be added to after midnight; and the fire must be fully extinguished if at any time the fire is not attended or a means of extinguishing is not immediately available. For more information about open burning, contact the Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office at 703-737-8600 or go to loudoun.gov/firemarshal.

Registration Open for Bike to Work Day

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Brad Kline, one of the developers with plans for townhouses in Old Ashburn, holds up a photo of rendering of his plans.

“I’m not sure why anybody would want to keep this kind of property and these kinds of uses or these old buildings,” Kline said. “But I’m here to help and work with the citizens any way we can.” Residents of Old Ashburn have come out in droves to every public hearing to ask supervisors to pass the amendment as soon as possible. And a handful of residents from western Loudoun asked the board to go yet farther, arguing that four residences per acre was too many for their area. Board members have argued that, without access to water and sewer, the space requirements for a septic field will make four units per acre unrealistic in the west. “We are simply trying to follow the intent of the original rural commercial district,” Supervisor Ron A. Meyer Jr. (R-Broad Run) said. Supervisors have also said this district, which applies to parcels scattered across the county, may change after the county completes an ongoing review of its comprehensive plan. “There has been this tradition in the county that you have a zoning district and you have it across the entire county, and that we actually need to look at different categories based on where they are in the county,” Supervisor Suzanne M. Volpe (R-Algonkian) said. rgreene@loudounnow.com

Registration is open for Bike to Work Day, set for Friday, May 19. All bicycle commuters, from first timers to daily cyclists, are encouraged to register at biketoworkmetrodc.org or by calling 800-745-7433. Loudoun County will host two pit stops where registrants can pick-up free T-shirts, receive giveaways, enjoy refreshments, and win prizes. The Loudoun pit stops will be in Leesburg at Raflo Park on Harrison Street from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and in Sterling east of Rt. 28, at Ruritan Road behind Orbital ATK from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Bike to Work Day is coordinated regionally by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. The local festivities are planned by Loudoun County Commuter Services. Novice bike commuters who are interested in a group ride prior to Bike to Work Day, or others seeking more information can contact the local coordinator, Judy Galen, at 703-737-8044 or judy.galen@ loudoun.gov. Information and a link to register can also be found at loudoun.gov/BiketoWork.

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A county board committee has signed off on an update to Loudoun’s town center zoning rules that could open the developments to data centers. The county’s Planned Development-Town Center zoning district currently applies in seven projects: Lansdowne, One Loudoun, Arcola Town Center, Dulles Town Center, Cascades Overlook, Waterside, and Dulles World Center, also known as The Hub. Supervisors are taking a new look at the regulations with an eye toward allowing more of the mixed-use developments around eastern Loudoun. Planning and Zoning Director Ricky Barker characterized the committee’s work on the district as “tweaking.” Major changes to locational standards guiding where town centers should be built will fall under the county’s ongoing Envision Loudoun effort to update the comprehensive plan. “We feel like the district has some flaws, in that it’s not as flexible as it should be,” Barker said. Among other changes to the district, specifying a dense, vertical, pedestrian-oriented core and a lessdense fringe, the update would allow data centers, subject to certain stan-

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dards. The committee’s recommendation would require that buildings that contain data centers match the surrounding designs, be at least three stories tall and occupy less than half of the floor area of the building. The proposal also states that buildings could not contain both a data center and residential units. The committee also recommended the board look at the possibility of data centers taking up more space in a building, as long as the first floor is another commercial use. Supervisor Ron A. Meyer Jr. (R-Broad Run) said encouraging the data center market will be important to paying for Loudoun’s Metro obligations. Data centers this year are predicted to bring in well over a hundred million dollars in tax revenue. The committee, over the objections of county staff members, has also proposed allowing single-family detached homes by-right in town center cores. The proposed rule would allow homes that are at least three stories tall in layouts with alleys and garages that can be accessed only from alleys. The proposed zoning revisions will now go to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration.

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[ POLITICS ]

Comstock District Office Sees Weeklong Protest BY RENSS GREENE Protesters gathered at U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA-10)’s Sterling district office every morning and afternoon all last week asking for answers. Members of Indivisible VA 10, one of the many protest organizations that have sprung up in the 10th District since the 2016 election, have called on Comstock for months to hold an in-person town hall. Comstock has so far insisted on small-group meetings and telephone town halls. People who have been to in-person meetings say often they’ve had to drive to Washington, DC, to have them, even during congressional recess. Others have received only prepared statements. “We get that we might never agree, we might never change your mind,” said Indivisible member Jan Hyland. “But this is still a huge part of your job, and the less you engage with us, the more distrust there is.” “The congresswoman has held two telephone town halls where she reached approximately 9,000 constituents and will hold more,” said Comstock spokesman Jeff Marschner by email. “She and her staff have also met with hundreds of constituents at small group and individual meetings in our offices in Sterling, Winchester and on Capitol Hill.” Last Friday afternoon, about 25 people gathered on the side of Rt. 7 in front of Comstock’s Sterling office. Indivisible VA 10 organized the protests. Each day brought different themes and different protesters— from Comstock’s voting record Monday, to science and the environment Tuesday, immigration Wednesday, health care Thursday, and Russia’s influence in the election Friday.

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Protesters gather on the side of Rt. 7 in front of Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA-10)’s Sterling office.

Ayala Sherbow, another Indivisible organizer, met with Comstock one-on-one before a town hall meeting Indivisible organized after being unable to convince the congresswoman’s office to arrange one. “I could tell she doesn’t believe who Indivisible represents at all,” Sherbow said. “I don’t know who she thinks is footing the bill, I don’t know who she thinks this energy is coming from, but it’s clear that she doesn’t get that we are, like, we’re realtors, and engineers, and moms, and teachers, and students.” Cleo U., who declined to give her full last name and said she lives in Middletown, said a young Trump supporter came to the protest Thursday with a sign reading “I Love Trump” and a “Make America Great Again” hat. “I looked over at him, and I said, ‘do you want a drink? I brought a cooler, help yourself,’” Cleo said. “He was standing there, and I’m smiling at him, and I

say why don’t you come down here and stand next to me, and we can have opposing protests.” Cleo said she and the young man struck up a conversation, both about politics and everyday life. “I think he was expecting to film himself getting yelled at, and he got the total opposite response to that,” she said. By the time he left, she said, they shared a hug and a picture. “Barbara Comstock will not meet with her constituents in a town hall because she is afraid that we are going to be rowdy, and here is a Trump supporter, a lovely young man, who came here expecting the same thing,” Cleo said. “And instead we ended up giving each other a hug and he wanted to take a selfie with me. So it’s absolutely ridiculous that Barbara is less afraid of going to Egypt—where two bombs went off when she was there—and she is more afraid of us, her constituents.” On Friday, Comstock returned from a trip to Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon with Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA) and Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY). “She has met with hundreds more constituents, as she has for the seven years she has been in office, by tirelessly visiting local businesses—small and large, hospitals, universities, schools, community organizations, Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, non-profits, churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and more,” Marschner said. “There is no one who is more ever-present in the district— listening to, learning from and meeting with her constituents. rgreene@loudounnow.com

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Lindsey Davis Stover, a consultant and former staffer in Congress and in the Obama administration, has announced her challenge to Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA-10). “Our district deserves a member of Congress who has the courage to stand up to President Trump’s divisiveness and put the needs of our communities first,” Stover stated in a press release Tuesday announcing her candidacy. “In Donald Trump and Barbara Comstock’s America, the ladder of opportunity will stay broken, good people will be pitted against each other, and hard work will not result in opportunities for our families.” Stover has previously served in the

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Keynote Luncheon Speaker

Former Former Secretary Secretary of of State State Madeleine Madeleine Albright Albright

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His His Excellency Excellency David David O'Sullivan, O'Sullivan, Ambassador Ambassador of of the the European European Union Union to to the the United United States States of of America America

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[ LEESBURG ]

Apr. 20 – 26, 2017

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Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

The Town Green, including the recently installed performance stage, is one of 10 areas eyed for improvements as part of the Town Hall grounds master plan.

Campus Plan on Tap for Leesburg Town Hall BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

he master planning process for the Leesburg Town Hall grounds is underway. The idea to develop a master plan for the Town Hall property stemmed from Board of Architectural Review discussions last year. At the time, the BAR was considering the splash pad project at Mervin Jackson Park, next to the Town Hall parking garage. Questioning whether historic downtown was the right location for that project, board members urged the Town Council to develop a plan for the entire Town Hall property rather than pursuing projects on a piecemeal basis. The splash pad project was recently de-

leted from the Capital Improvements Program by the Town Council during budget deliberations. Town Planning and Zoning Department Director Susan Berry-Hill is spearheading the staff-led effort to garner public input for the project. She said town staffers will provide a survey to several town boards and commissions—the BAR, the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Commission on Public Art, and the Planning Commission—in addition to the Historic Downtown Leesburg Association and the Loudoun Museum. The survey will show the Town Hall property divided into 10 segments, including different facades and entries into the garage, the Rose Garden area, the Loudoun Museum property, and the Town Green, to name a few, and

New Leesburg Bike Trail Debuted The Town of Leesburg will celebrate the arrival of a new bike trail with a dedication ceremony Saturday morning. Mayor Kelly Burk will officiate a dedication ceremony at 9 a.m. at Fox Ridge Park. Two newly-designated segments of the network—the Blue and Green Trails—are on shared-use paths, marked by distinctive trail signs at intervals along each route. The Blue Trail extends 5.5 miles, beginning at the W&OD Trail in Tuscarora Creek Park and ending at the cul-de-sac on Ball’s Bluff Road NE near the entrance to Ball’s Bluff Regional Park. The Green Trail runs for 2.6 miles, beginning at the W&OD Trail near Fox Ridge Park and

ending at the intersection of Battlefield Parkway and North King Street. Cyclists can continue north on shared-use paths to Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School, Smart’s Mill Middle School and Tuscarora High School from the northern end of the Green Trail. The Blue and Green Trails are linked at their southern trailheads by the W&OD Trail. The distance between trailheads on the W&OD Trail is 1.9 miles. The trail connections were made possible in a joint effort by the town and Bike Loudoun, according to a press release. See a details of the Leesburg Bike Trail Network at leesburgva.gov/ biketrail.

ask for input on what improvements can be added to those areas. The public at large will also be asked to give input, likely via the town website, Berry-Hill said. The responses will then be compiled and sent back to the boards and commissions so members can see all the ideas on the table. “Then the idea is to refine that further and come up with a master plan,” she said. “It’ll be the long-term plan for improvements to all these specific areas. We’re referring to it as the Town Hall campus.” Ultimately, the Town Council will get the final say on the master plan. Berry-Hill said she hopes to present to council members in the early fall, but said the timeline will be dictated by how close together, or different, the

recommendations are. In the initial surveys, the town staff will provide some options on hardscape and softscape enhancements, like public art and different landscaping features, Berry-Hill said, but the goal is to receive fresh ideas from those surveyed. “I think we’re going to start with an open book and see what we get,” she said. A project page on the Town Hall Master Plan will be forthcoming on the town website, Berry-Hill said. In the meantime, she and other town staffers will be making presentations to town boards and commissions to solicit initial feedback. krodriguez@loudounnow.com

[ TOWN NOTES ]

For the second straight year, Loudoun County Sheriff â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office Deputy Eddie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Toole will take part in a grueling mountain bike race to raise money for, and awareness of, first responder mental health.Â This Saturday, Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Toole is set to compete in the Bakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dozen Mountain

Deputy Fundraising for Leesburg Race

Bike Race at a farm north of Leesburg in an effort to raise awareness of the high suicide rate among law enforcement personnel. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an issue close to his heart, not only Deputy Eddie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Toole because of his time as a first responder, but Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Toole also is a close family friend of Billy Hurley III, the PGA golfer whose father Willard Hurley Jr., a former police officer took his own life in 2015.Â SuicideÂ among law enforcement personnel is a growing concern, he said, as officers are constantly exposed to stressful environments, violence and disturbing situations. Internalizing the emotions surrounding their line of work is all too common, Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Toole said, but the nonprofit for which he is riding in supportâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;The Badge of Lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;seeks to be an arm of psychological assistance for the law enforcement community. In a nod to the typical day of a law enforcement officer, Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Toole will ride the entire 13-plus-hour race route in his Sheriff â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office uniform. His goal is to complete at least 12 laps, which would total more than 100 miles. To support Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Tooleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts and donate to The Badge of Life, go toÂ gofundme. com/ride-for-our-lives.

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

The Leesburg Utilities Department recently released the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2016 Water Quality Report. Last year,Â Leesburg met or exceeded all the Environmental Protection Agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water quality standards.Â Since 1999, the EPA has required water providers to publish annual water quality reports. The report provides customers with information about the source, treatment, and testing of their drinking water as well as an overview of drinking water regulations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Town of Leesburg takes great pride in providing quality reliable drinking water to our community,â&#x20AC;? Mayor Kelly Burk stated. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our staff are highly qualified and dedicated. Leesburg residents can be confident that their drinking water is pure and safe.â&#x20AC;?Â Â The full report can be viewed on the Town website atÂ leesburgva.gov/waterqualityreport. Customers who have questions about their drinking water quality are encouraged to contact the Utilities Department atÂ 703-737-7110.

Apr. 20 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 26, 2017

Water Quality Report Online

inside Be Beautiful

Earth Day Celebration April 22, 2017

700 Fieldstone Drive, Leesburg

Earth Day is the perfect day to make a donation to the ReStore. Visit www.loudounrestore.org for a complete list of items accepted. When you make an acceptable donation (from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) your name will be entered into a drawing for a $100 VISA gift card. Earth Day also marks the beginning of our Battery Recycling Program. Drop off the following types of batteries and we will recycle them for you free of charge. - Heavy equipment/Tractor trailer - Automotive

- RV - Small Engine

- Marine

Pack Rat Hauling makes every effort to find recycling and other reuses for everything they haul and will be offering FREE drop-off of the following: electronics, TVs, clutter, junk, etc.

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These vendors will be on-site from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Yuck Old Paint offers safe, earth friendly disposal of paint. $5 fee per can A portion of the fee will go to Loudoun Habitat - Quart size and larger cans of latex (water-based, enamel and acrylic) paints and oil-based paints - Paint must be in original containers - Cash, check, or credit card accepted

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Brewer << FROM 1 Wonman Joseph Williams, now 25, said his path crossed Brewer’s when he was a teen in trouble with the law. “I was always in trouble, always in detention,” he said. “Dr. Brewer gave me a number of chances and supported me when others would have said it’s too much work. He changed the direction of my life. It sounds cheesy, but it’s true.” Williams now lives in California, but with some financial help from Dominion teachers and parents, he flew back in December to speak at a School Board meeting. He joined hundreds of others at the microphone to urge the board to reinstate their principal. His visit home for Easter also happened to coincide with Brewer’s return to Dominion. Kim Winters, now an English teacher at Park View High School, also lined up to welcome Brewer back. She was in Dominion’s first graduating class in 2005. Attendance boundary changes are always emotional, but Dominion’s were outright tense. The lines were drawn so that the new school would enroll students from some of the county’s wealthiest and poorest neighborhoods. Winters said as a junior, she was given the option to attend Dominion or continue on at Park View. Just as he does for every incoming student, Brewer visited Winters’ home over the summer. He asked her what type of classes she wanted the school to offer and what

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Dominion High School Principal John Brewer made the rounds to catch up with students, former students, teachers and parents gathered at a restaurant in Cascades on Monday.

type of atmosphere she’d like to see take shape at the school. “That was a turning point for me,” she said. “He took the time to listen to me even before I decided I was going there.” Winters went on to graduate from Dominion and return after college to teach there for four years. “The reason I’m still teaching today is because of him,” Winters said. “It’s so important that his legacy continues. It’s so important to support people who go out of their way to improve the lives of those around them. He does that every day.”

Parents, teachers and students said the past few months, although stressful and contentious, came with a bit of a silver lining. Families with different backgrounds and living in very different neighborhoods got to know one another as they found unity in their support for their principal. Sue Kysela, vice president of Dominion’s PTO, noticed that many families who speak English as a second language joined the effort, signing petitions, distributing “Bring Back Brewer” campaign-style signs, and speaking in front of hundreds of their neighbors

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at School Board meetings. “These are families who usually hesitate to get involved because maybe they’re intimidated,” she said. “That really says a lot.” “We’re an even stronger community now. I mean look at this place,” PTO president Amy Curran said, scanning the restaurant, noisy with Dominion families chatting with one another and, of course, their principal making his rounds to each of the tables. “It’s like a wedding reception.” dnadler@loudounnow.com

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Flower and Garden

Apr. 20 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 26, 2017

<< FROM 3

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just for gardeners or people putting landscaping in new yards,â&#x20AC;? Fountain said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got kids and want something fun to do to get outside for the weekend youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got the kids area and kids stage. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got the Main Stage on the courthouse where you can go grab food at a food vendor, sit and listen to great music all weekend. You have the beer garden with seven or eight craft breweries, plus all the other vendors. We call it the Flower & Garden Festival because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just about all the products that have something to do with outdoor living. You might be looking for new deck furniture or a hammock or something for your pet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And to top it all off youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got downtown Leesburg,â&#x20AC;? she continued. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just into old towns and architecture itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great backdrop to come to downtown Leesburg and see all the restaurants and little shops we have to offer, and all the craft breweries. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a great way to be outside.â&#x20AC;? Full details on the weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offerings can be found online atÂ flowerandgarden.org, or go to the Leesburg Flower and Garden Festival Facebook page.Â

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

Glick will be giving another presentation Saturday on the presentation stage on The Joy of PropagationÂ from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. For Fountain, the festival marks the start to spring and a highlight is seeing neighbors and friends after a long winter hibernation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so fun the amount of people that live in the community that you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen in six to nine months because youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re coming out of winter,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is just a great community event where the entire town comes out and kind of reconnects with people you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen in such a long time.â&#x20AC;? The event runsÂ from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 22, and againÂ Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Â In addition to the scores of vendors hawking garden and outdoor goods, 13 food vendors will be on hand to satisfy even the most discerning pallet. A beer garden, showcasing the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s booming craft brewery industry, will be set up on the Town Green. A main stage and presentation stage can be found on the courthouse grounds for those looking to enjoy some great music, or learn something new. And the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stage and art area returns to North Street to give the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youngest attendees a chance to get in on the fun. It is just thisâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the wide variety of activities and tastes satisfied at the festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;that Fountain says makes this one of Loudoun Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best events, and biggest draws.

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[ PUBLIC SAFETY ]

Lansdowne Man Gets 10 Years in 2015 Shootings BY NORMAN K. STYER Javier K. Todd was a Lansdowne teen on a course to join the military, following the example of his U. S. Air Force parents. But he lost his way and now will spend the next decade in a Virginia prison. Todd, 21, was sentenced April 11 in connection with two violent attacks that occurred in January 2015. He was arrested and charged with attempted murder after a Jan. 26 assault in the area of Coton Hall Street and Riverpoint Drive in Lansdowne. In that case, Todd and his friend Timothy R. Vaughn, 20, of Ashburn, went to meet with an acquaintance. As cars pulled up side by side, Vaughn fired multiple rounds into the victim’s vehicle. Todd and Vaughn were charged with attempted murder and a slew of firearms charges in the attack. Vaughn pleaded guilty in the case later that year and is serving an 8-year sentence in the Augusta Correctional Center. While Todd was still held in jail six months later, he was charged with more crimes. Todd was identified as the suspect in

a Jan. 22 road-rage case that happened on Rt. 7 near CountrySide. He was driving with his pregnant girlfriend when a vehicle pulled up on the passenger side and the two drivers began shouting at each other while traveling at highway speeds on the road. The altercation ended when Todd fired four shots into the rear of the vehicle and the other driver exited onto Loudoun County Parkway. In that case, Todd was charged with another slew of firearms charges. In the combined cases, Todd pleaded guilty to malicious wounding, five counts of shooting at a motor vehicle, one count of shooting from a motor vehicle, and four counts of shooting from a motor vehicle so as to endanger persons. Because Todd was found guilty of larceny in a 2014 robbery case, he also was sentenced on convictions of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and a probation violation. After hearing testimony from Todd and his mother in court Tuesday, Circuit Court Judge Jeanette A. Irby handed up a total sentence of 26 years in prison, with 16 years of suspended time. Following his release, he’ll be required to spend five years on probation.

Javier K. Todd

In his testimony, Todd recognized that the military career he and his parents had envisioned—he had participated in summer cadet training programs starting in sixth grade and had intended to enlist after high school— was off the table. But he promised to be a better person after he serves his time in prison. “I will use my skills and training in the right way,” he said.

[ BRIEFS ] SUV Driver Killed in Rt. 15 Rollover Crash Virginia State Police troopers are investigating a fatal crash that happened April 12 near Gilbert’s Corner. The crash was reported just before 10:30 p.m. on Rt. 15 north of Rt. 50. According to the preliminary report, a Ford Explorer was traveling north on Rt. 15 when the driver lost control and overcorrected, causing the SUV to overturn. The driver, Aaron S. Burdick, 35, of Berryville, was partially ejected and died at the scene. The crash remains under investigation. It was the 11th highway fatality in Loudoun County this year and the third fatal crash to happen in April.

Man Who Fled Crash Scene Gets Prison Sentence The Ashburn man who pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a pedestrian accident last September will spend at least six months behind bars. SAFETY BRIEFS >> 13

[ SAFETY BRIEFS ] after leaving the bar and even texted a friend about her concerns. She soon fell asleep, but woke up after the crash—in time to see her friend, Gabrielle M. Perry, 22, try to get up off the pavement when another car hit her. That car did not stop, she said. Perry died at the scene. Deputy S.D. Allen said Glenn registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.14 when tested at the Adult Detention Center more than an hour after the crash. The legal limit in Virginia is 0.08. Glenn is expected back in court May 9, following the grand jury’s review.

Andre M. Glenn

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2 Hotel Robberies Under investigation

The case against a Sterling man charged in a fatal crash on Rt. 28 will be submitted to a Loudoun grand jury. Andre M. Glenn, 26, appeared in

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The Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office is investigating two robberies that occurred in Sterling hotels Saturday. The cases are unrelated and the victims in both cases were targeted by the suspects, the agency said. The first occurred at 2:30 a.m. at the Comfort Inn at Dulles Plaza. The victim reported opening the hotel room door and having a male suspect forcefully enter the room and take victim’s cell phone. The victim attempted to get the cell phone back and a struggle ensued. The suspect fled the scene. The victim was treated for minor injuries at the scene. A 7:30 p.m. deputies were called to the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel on East Severn Way for an armed robbery investigation. The victim reported opening the hotel room door and having two males enter the room. One suspect brandished a knife and demanded money. The suspects stole the cell phone and fled the scene in a silver vehicle. One suspect was described as a black male about 6-feet tall, wearing black clothing with workout pants with a stripe down the side. The second suspect was described as a white male wearing a white shirt. Both cases are under investigation.

Lee Edwin Johnson was sentenced in the case on Friday. According to Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office investigators, Johnson was driving in the area of Rt. 7 and CountrySide Boulevard when he came upon the scene of an accident with an injured pedestrian and two crashed cars. When deputies arrived, they administered aid to the pedestrian and other crash victims; Johnson ran away on foot. Investigators identified him though the wallet that was found among empty beer bottles on the floor of his red Ford Escape, according to court documents. In January, Johnson pleaded guilty to failing to stop at an accident scene and an additional charge of reckless driving was dropped. Because there was an injury, the charge was a class 5 felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. He was sentenced to three years in prison, with two and a half years suspended. Upon his release, he’ll serve a year of supervised probation. Loudoun court records show that Johnson had been arrested twice before on suspicion of DWI. A 2009 case resulted in a conviction and a 30-day jail sentence. A 2015 case was not pursued by county prosecutors.

Loudoun County District Court on April 12 for a preliminary hearing on charges of felony involuntary manslaughter, DUI, and driving on a suspended license. The crash happened just after 2 a.m. Feb. 21 on Rt. 28 near Dulles Airport. Glenn was driving a Jeep Wrangler northbound with three passengers. The group had left The Bungalow in Chantilly after last call at the bar. The jeep hit a jersey barrier, with the crash ejecting two female passengers. During the preliminary hearing, one of the female passengers said she was nervous about Glenn’s driving

Apr. 20 – 26, 2017

<< FROM 12

[ E D U C AT I O N ]

[ SCHOOL NOTES ]

loudounnow.com

Loudoun Now/File Photo

Creighton’s Corner students perform at Leader Day in November.

Creighton’s Corner Joins Prestigious Covey Network

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Teachers at Lucketts Elementary School take their lunch break on the stage in the gym while physical education class is underway on the other side of the curtain. The school’s teacher lounge was converted into a small classroom to make room for a surge in enrollment.

A Year After Attendance Changes, Several Leesburg Schools Are Crowded Again BY DANIELLE NADLER

lmost exactly a year ago, Loudoun County school leaders redrew the attendance lines for 10 elementary schools in and around Leesburg. More than 1,100 students were reassigned schools, with the goal of relieving overcrowding. Now, before a full academic year has passed, enrollment at four of those schools already has surged above their building capacities. John W. Tolbert has 780 students, 48 above its building capacity. Sycolin Creek Elementary has 22 students above capacity. Lucketts’ enrollment stands at 321; it’s building was designed to hold 297. Catoctin’s enrollment is 701, 38 above its building capacity. There are several schools in the southern end of the county that ap-

pear worse off; Buffalo Trail Elementary near Aldie, for example, has 1,224 students this year, 200 more than its building was meant to hold. But Lucketts Principal Carolyn Clement, who has also served as an administer at the eight-year-old Kenneth Culbert Ele-

mentary near Hamilton, said the newer school designs have a little more wiggle room than the older buildings. Two of the Leesburg schools facing the toughest space constraints are CROWDED >> 16

Roll Call

Enrollment at Leesburg area elementary schools JOHN W. TOLBERT: 780, 48 above capacity

LEESBURG: 566, 38 below capacity

CATOCTIN: 701, 38 above capacity

FRANCES HAZEL REID: 737, 1 below capacity

LUCKETTS: 320, 23 above capacity

FREDERICK DOUGLASS: 737, 41 below capacity

SYCOLIN CREEK: 791, 22 above capacity

BALL’S BLUFF: 683, 43 below capacity

COOL SPRINGS: 629, 13 below capacity

EVERGREEN MILL: 536, 60 below capacity

Rock Ridge Student Wins Step Up Competition Loudoun County teens who are making big strides to improve their community received recognition and grant dollars to carry their visions to fruition. Eighty teams submitted their ideas to Loudoun Youth Inc.’s seventh annual Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition this year, and four walked away with top awards following a ceremony April 5. The top 10 teams presented their projects to a panel of judges that evening at The Club at One Loudoun. Rock Ridge High School student Kriti Ganotra won first place, and a $1,000 prize, for her project, Call of Security. Kriti developed a free machine to combat cyber threats with the goal of

bringing her technology into every home and school in Loudoun County. A project called Put It Down! won second place, and $750. The team of middle schoolers Freya Panchamia, Saumya Sharma, Paras Sarjapour and Iyush Hoysal created a campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. The students attend Eagle Ridge, Mercer and Stone Hill middle schools. John Champe High School students Palak Shah and Areej Khan took home a third-place prize, and $500, for their project, Clean Kits, that colSTEP UP >> 15

Creighton’s Corner Elementary School has been invited to join the Franklin Covey Leader in Me school network. “The Leader in Me” was originally a book collaboration among Stephen Covey, Sean Covey, David Hatch and educator Muriel Summers. The study of the book has morphed into a whole-school transformation process that creates a culture in which every student is a leader. Schools undergoing the process connect through the network for professional development and sharing. The program emphasizes the integration of leadership development into school programs, curricula and traditions. It focuses on “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” as an approach young students can take to become self-reliant, take initiative, plan ahead, set and track goals, manage their emotions and express their viewpoints persuasively. Creighton’s Corner began its book study of “The Leader in Me” in 2015 and has now conducted two Leader Day events. At Leader Day, Creighton’s Corner students have shared their leadership notebooks with an adult guest to discuss their academic progress in core subject areas and to evaluate their development as a leader. More than 2,500 schools in 35 countries are now members of the network.

All-County Elementary Chorus This Weekend

Photo credit: YouthQuest Foundation

Kriti Ganotra, a Rock Ridge High School student, won first place in the Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition for her technology that combats cyber threats.

Some of the county’s most talented young singers will perform this weekend as part of the All-County Elementary Chorus Festival. About 180 fifth-graders will take part in the two-day festival, which will culminate with a free public concert at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at Tuscarora High School, 801 N. King St. in Leesburg. SCHOOL NOTES >> 15

[ SCHOOL NOTES ] Guest clinician Tony Leach will conduct the students. He served as conductor of the Penn State University Choir from 1994 to 2015 and taught undergraduate and graduate courses in choral music education. Leach teaches a graduate music education seminar and coordinates the African American Music Festival at Penn State.

The

theater

department

Join us for an information session to find out more about

the secondary school designed for gifted students

Step Up << FROM 14 lects hygiene and sanitary products for homeless women in Loudoun County. Fourth place, and a $150 prize, went to Harper Park Middle School students Isabelle Nikkhoo and Tammy Noyomtes for their project, Every Voice Heard. They created a website that gives individuals an outlet to share their stories of struggling with depression and suicide. They also ran a fundraiser to contribute to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Loudoun Youth Inc. and Loudoun County Parks, Recreation and Community Services present the Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition annually

Photo credit: YouthQuest Foundation

Ganotra poses with, from left, Loudoun Youth Executive Director Steve Wolfson and President and CEO Jared Melvin.

in partnership with the Youth Advisory Council and Loudoun County Public Schools. Loudoun Youth offered a special thank you to the YouthQuest Foundation for providing funding for the competition since 2012.

When: Sunday, April 30th — 2:00 pm Where: Ashburn Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department, Founders Hall 20688 Ashburn Road, Ashburn, VA 20147

Visit www.loudoungifted.org/infosession for more information and to register.

Woodgrove Presents ‘Beauty and the Beast’

Woodgrove High School will perform the classic Disney tale “Beauty and the Beast” over the next two weekends. The performances are at 7 p.m. Friday, April 21 and 28, and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 22 and 29. The Friday performances will also be Princesses and Pirates Nights, when audience members are encouraged to dress up as their favorite princess or pirate. Younger audience members will receive a special gift for participating and dressing up. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at woodgroveperformingarts.com.

Apr. 20 – 26, 2017

<< FROM 14

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Crowded << FROM 14 housed in two of the county’s oldest school buildings. Catoctin Elementary opened in 1966, with additions added in 1974, 1983 and again in 1999. Lucketts Elementary opened in 1972, and a classroom addition was built in 2001. “This year we have 24 additional students. That seems so few until you see how we’ve had to use our space,” Clement said of Lucketts Elementary. “We’re using every inch of this building.” The art and music classroom has been converted to a kindergarten classroom, so the art and music teachers transport their supplies—everything from xylophones to paint brushes—on carts from storage closets to classrooms for each class. That also means art and music takes place in the general education classrooms, so grade-level teachers are left to spend their lunch and planning periods elsewhere. They won’t find a quiet place in the teacher’s lounge, either. That room is now used as a resource room, where three teachers work with as many as 11 students at once on various remedial lessons. As of this year, the teachers eat lunch on the stage in the gymnasium, while gym class is underway just beyond the stage curtain. At Clement’s request, the school system built a wall in the office lobby to create a conference room. She also requested a wall in the cafeteria, which partitioned much-needed space for music equipment, and other classroom

supplies. Another wall was added in a hallway to create a small classroom for English Language Learner teachers and students. Twenty-two percent of Lucketts’ students, or about 70 students, receive ELL services, which means they are often pulled out of the regular classroom for additional help. “That’s a lot for a small school,” Clement said. When standardized testing begins next month, the school’s library will close to be used as a testing center. Students used to test in a computer lab, but that lab is now used as a fifth-grade classroom. “We have left no stone unturned when it comes to space,” Clement said. “We’re pretty creative.” She acknowledges that parents at the school urged School Board members a year ago to not reassign even one of its students. And the board listened and followed their request. The board had at one point considered reassigning 12 Lucketts students to other schools. “But even without those 12 students, we would be facing these same issues,” Clement said. Amy Tribié has experienced the school’s tight quarters both as a teacher and a parent. When she first started teaching music at Lucketts Elementary in 2002, she shared a classroom with an art teacher. Now, she says that it is the only school in the county that doesn’t have a dedicated music and arts room. “It’s very different now. Storage closets are now resource rooms. In one, three teachers are working with 11 kids at once, all on different subjects,” she

said. “I’ve seen students plugging their ears, saying they can’t concentrate.” Just as full-day kindergarten offerings are expanding in other parts of the county, Lucketts and four other Leesburg elementary schools will lose their full-day kindergarten class next year because of a lack of classroom space, according to School Board member Eric DeKenipp (Catoctin). “It is bad,” said DeKenipp, whose district includes Lucketts and Catoctin elementary schools. He said he’s visited Lucketts four times in recent months, each time bringing a fellow board member or a county supervisor to show them just how constrained it is. He has asked school system senior staff members to come up with some solutions, whether it be adding trailer classrooms, building an expansion, redrawing attendance boundaries, or recommending construction of a new Leesburg area elementary school. They are expected to present those within the next month. For Lucketts Elementary, DeKenipp says he’ll push for a building expansion. “It’s the most efficient solution. We’ve already got the land there, and we could relieve some of the capacity from central Leesburg schools.” At Catoctin Elementary, the staff lounge, all special education and ELL rooms, and a reading resource room have been converted into general education classrooms in recent years as enrollment has ticked up above building capacity. But Catoctin Principal Janet Platenberg said thinking outside of the box to

accommodate students hasn’t been all bad. She’s seen some advantages, like more opportunities for teachers to coteach and for students who would normally be pulled out for remedial lessons, getting that additional help in their general education classroom. “An older school design is more challenging because they don’t have the smaller resource rooms,” said Platenberg, who has also served as principal at Steuart W. Weller Elementary in Ashburn and Potowmack Elementary in Cascades. “However, some of the best teaching models I have observed have been a result of being more creative with our learning spaces.” The challenges of overcrowding will likely not end with Catoctin and Lucketts. Evergreen Mill Elementary and other schools on the southern end of the town will see a slew of new students as the Meadowbrook subdivision is built just off Evergreen Mill Road. The long-term solution may come in the form of a new school building. However, none of the developers building homes in Leesburg have proffered land for another school site. DeKenipp favors finding a solution without building another school, by instead adding onto existing buildings or redrawing attendance boundaries to use what capacity is available. “At the end of the day we have to be more efficient with the resources we are in charge of,” he said, “and I’m not sure we’re doing that now.” dnadler@loudounnow.com

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[ BIZ NOTES ] Chamber Panel Focuses on Loudoun Housing Needs

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Salar Riar presents his business idea, Pet Ping, at Mason Enterprise Center on April 12. He’s competing in a national startup pitch event May 4.

12-Year-Old Pitches Startup Idea to Loudoun Entrepreneurs BY DANIELLE NADLER

very Wednesday morning, local entrepreneurs gather at the Mason Enterprise Center in downtown Leesburg to listen to and critique one another’s startup ideas. Last Wednesday was no different, except that the entrepreneur pitching his idea happened to stand less than 5 feet tall and be just two weeks shy of his 13th birthday. Salar Riar, a student at Belmont Ridge Middle School, is on spring break this week. So why not take the morning to rub shoulders with some of Loudoun County’s most successful business owners? He was invited to give a five-minute presentation on his newly formed company, Pet Ping, at Mason Enterprise Center’s weekly 1 Million Cups meeting. 1 Million Cups is a national program that gives entrepreneurs an opportunity to pitch their company proposals to an audience of fellow business leaders, advisors and investors. Salar’s idea, Pet Ping, will manufacture a small GPS device that snaps on to a pet’s collar. The device will allow pet owners to track their pets’ location via a smartphone app. The app will also alert the owner when the pet has roamed away from home. Salar is tweaking his product’s design to make it run on solar power, rather than batteries. “And eventually, I want to design it so the collar can actually read the pet’s blood pressure and other vitals,” he said. “Sort of like a Fitbit for pets.” Salar is one of 29 secondary school students enrolled in the Loudoun

Chamber’s inaugural Young Entrepreneurs Academy! Over the past several months, the students have developed business ideas and, three weeks ago, they presented their plans to investors with the hopes of getting the seed money to launch their own legal, fully formed companies and nonprofit organizations. Salar won the YEA!’s top prize, $1,500 to help launch Pet Ping. That honor also came with an invite to deliver his business pitch to a panel of judges at the national YEA! competition May 4 in Rochester, NY, where he’ll compete against other Saunders Scholar winners around the country. He saw Mason Enterprise Center’s weekly 1 Million Cups meeting as a chance to brush up on his presentation skills and get feedback on his idea. And the two dozen or so business leaders in the room did not hold back. They offered a few words of encouragement, but mostly they listed ways Salar

could improve his product and the way he presents it. Craig Rhinehart, an executive at IBM and the company’s entrepreneur-in-residence, suggested Salar do a bit more research on his competition so that when investors ask why his Pet Ping product is $150 cheaper, he has a good answer. “You need to know the answer to why the competition is charging $250. And you need to know, if they drop their price to $100, what you’re going to do,” he said. “Investors want to know that you’ve thought through that.” Others suggested to offer more information about his marketing strategy and focus more on the numbers and projections side of the business, especially since he’s hoping to drum up interest from investors. “You’ve really done a good job,” one man in the audience said to close out the Shark Tank-style event. “You’ll do great.” Salar said he was taking mental notes and took each of their comments to heart. “Thank you for that. This is really helpful.” Salar’s parents, Amjad and Farzaneh, said the Loudoun Chamber’s YEA! is grooming young people to think early on about business ideas and giving them the tools to bring them to fruition. “It’s one thing to think of a business idea but it’s another to actually get it up and running,” said Amjad Riar, who started his own business several years ago. “Seeing them give Salar all the pieces required to start a business is extremely exciting to see.” dnadler@loudounnow.com

The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a May 3 State of Housing panel discussion at the Belmont Country Club. Featured speakers will be Department of Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer; Lisa Sturtevant, president of Lisa Sturtevant & Associates; Kim Hart, Executive Director of Windy Hill Development; and Todd Pearson, vice president at B. F. Saul Company. The forum is part of the Chamber’s 2017 PolicyMakers Series. “With Loudoun County facing a critical housing affordability and supply crisis, local leaders are focusing more energy and resources on addressing the issue. It is a subject that comes up more and more often in conversations and meetings around Loudoun,” according to Eric C. Johnson, the chamber’s government relations manager. The breakfast program runs from 8 to 11 a.m. For tickets and other information, go to loudounchamber.org or call 703-777-2176.

The new Fastsigns franchise is located at 934 Edwards Ferry Road NE

Fastsigns Franchise Opens in Leesburg Fastsigns of Leesburg will celebrate its grand opening May 9. Northern Virginia native Michelle Messich opened the business earlier this year along with her stepfather Gene Clement, nephew Dan Mathews and son Josh Messich. Messich spent 23 years as a registered nurse. She then owned and operated her own fitness franchise for 10 years. When her brother opened a Fastsigns location in Rochester, MN, she spent time shadowing his business and decided to open her own operation in Leesburg. The store is located at 934 Edwards Ferry Road NE and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The May 9 festivities begin at 4 p.m. Fastsigns International CEO Catherine Monson will be in attendance. Reservation may be made to 571-510-0400 or 2138@fastsigns.com.

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Buffington, Higgins Announce Equine Business Forum Loudoun’s western supervisors, Tony R. Buffington Jr. (R-Blue Ridge) and Geary M. Higgins (R-Catoctin), will sponsor an equine business panel discussion Monday, April 24. Panelists will include Kelly Foltman of the Loudoun Equine Alliance, Ann Hayes of Visit Loudoun; Loudoun County Department of Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer, Bab Banner of Great Meadow Foundation, Stephanie Kenyon of Morven Park; and Kellie Hinkle, the Department of Economic Development’s agricultural development officer. Buffington and Higgins will moderate.

The forum will tackle the future development and needs of the equine industry, expanding the trail system, and the possibility of establishing an equine quarantine center at Dulles Airport. Loudoun’s equine industry is the largest in all of Virginia and the largest agricultural industry in the county, generating nearly 3,000 jobs and more than $180 million in economic impact annually. The forum will be held at 7 p.m. in the Winmill Carriage House at Morven Park near Leesburg. To submit questions for the panel in advance, email rachel.chambers@ loudoun.gov.

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Catoctin Creek Distilling Expands Reach to Michigan

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Catoctin Creek Distilling Company in Purcellville this week began selling its craft spirits in Michigan. Initially, the distillery’s Roundstone Rye will be distributed in Detroit, Lansing and Ann Arbor, with additional locations to be added shortly. The expansion into Michigan comes via Benchmark Beverage Company. Company President Auday Arabo stated, “The distillery is making great products that we’re certain will be winners with our consumers.” Founded in 2009 by the husband and wife team of Becky and Scott Harris, Catoctin Creek uses local and organic ingredients to produce a variety of premium spirits. Their flagship Roundstone Rye is Virginia’s most-awarded whisky. “Every bottle we produce at Catoctin Creek is crafted by hand from the best organic grains,” Scott Harris stated. “We can’t wait for the spirits we make with careful attention to detail to be enjoyed by people across Michigan.”

Workforce Resource Center Holds ‘Career Connections’ Panel Discussion The Loudoun Workforce Resource Center will offer Career Connections, an employer panel discussion, from 9 to 10 a.m., Thursday, April 27. The program will take place in the Shenandoah Room on the second floor of the Shenandoah Building, 102 Heritage Way, N.E. in Leesburg. The employers will share information about their organizations, including job openings, job requirements and candidate qualifications. The organizations represented will be the Loudoun County Public Schools, the Department of Transportation, LCPS Department of Personnel, Manpower, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 26.

The program is free and open to the public, offering an opportunity to network with employers. Space is limited and registration can be completed at tinyurl.com/panelnetwork For more information, contact May Durkovic or Shelly Rodriguez at 703777-0150 or wrc@loudoun.gov.

Comstock Announces Veterans Jobs Fair U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (RVA-10) announced the 10th Congressional District Veterans Jobs Fair that will take place June 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Loudoun County Public School Administration Building, 21000 Education Court in Broadlands. Representatives of federal and state agencies, businesses, area chambers of commerce, and veterans groups working to employ skilled military veterans when they transition to civilian jobs will be invited to participate. Anyone wishing to join the program should contact Anthony Barnes at anthony.barnes@mail.house.gov.

HUBZone Meeting Planned The Town of Leesburg’s Economic Development Office willhold its next quarterly HUBZone Business Meeting on Thursday, April 27, 2017, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mason Enterprise Center, 202 Church St. SE. The meeting is no-cost and open to all small businesses. This meeting will feature a panel representatives of three Leesburg companies in various stages of the HUBZone certification process who will share their experiences. Under the auspices of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the HUBZone program helps small businesses gain preferential access to federal contracts while adding jobs in economically distressed areas. For more information, go to leesburgva.gov/hubzone to RSVP for this meeting. For more information, contact Kindra Harvey at kharvey@leesburgva.gov or 703-737-6530.

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Waltonwood Ashburn Holds First Food Drive Waltonwood Ashburn partnered with the Community Church’s Messiah’s Market food pantry this month for its first food drive. The drive was to celebrate National Nutrition Month. Future residents and employees at Waltonwood, which is currently under construction, worked with the Community Church to collect several hundred pounds of healthy food for Messiah’s Market. “We believe in partnering with area organizations to give back to seniors and families in the greater community,” said Justin Roberts, executive director of Waltonwood Ashburn. “Through this food drive, we had a wonderful opportunity to make a difference, and we look forward to working with Messiah’s Market food pantry again in the future.”

Live Well Names Nonprofit Winners

Courtesy of Backpack Buddies Foundation of Loudoun

Girls enjoy ice cream during Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day, which helped raise money for the Backpack Buddies Foundation of Loudoun.

Foundation Gives $41K to Feed Hungry Kids BY CAROLINE BORAS The Backpack Buddies Foundation of Loudoun donated $41,000 to 18 groups that support backpack buddies programs in Loudoun County Public Schools this month. “This is by far the biggest donation we’ve made,” said Daniel L. Hampton, president and founder of the Backpack Buddies Foundation of Loudoun. The foundation provides food and financial donations to backpack buddies programs, which help feed food-insecure students over the weekends. Backpack buddies programs typically send cereal, milk, hearty soup or ravioli, tuna, applesauce and snacks home with students each Friday. Hampton said the “generous individuals” who support the foundation helped raise some of the $41,000, but attributed the bulk of the fundraising to the organization’s annual Friends-

Courtesy of Backpack Buddies of Loudoun

Brownie Troop 1550 participated in a mac and cheese drive at the Giant in Leesburg to provide meals for students in the backpack buddies programs. giving Dinner and Auction, held in November.

The 18 grant recipients—including churches, schools, PTAs and food pantries—received a range of $500$15,000, depending on the number of students they support. This school year, 82 schools and 3,683 students participated in backpack buddies programs in Loudoun. “Our donations today are only the beginning,” Hampton said in a press release. “We look forward to continuing our partnership to provide meals to students in need and working towards our mutual goal of eliminating the current food insecurity issue that thousands of students face daily.” BBFL’s next major fundraising event is its third annual Friendsgiving Dinner and Auction on Nov. 10, but they also participate in smaller fundraisers. Hampton said the organization recently partnered with the Ben & Jerry’s at the Dulles Town Center for their Free Cone Day, raising $1,400.

The Live Well Loudoun Festival has selected the beneficiaries for this year’s event, which will be held Saturday, April 22. Loudoun Cares was named the primary beneficiary and Legacy Farms was named the runner-up beneficiary. The two charities will receive the voluntary attendee donations and promotional considerations. “It was tough to choose a winner from the amazing number of nonprofit organizations that serve Loudoun County residents,” said Live Well Loudoun Festival founder Natalie Hughes. “We are grateful that county residents will benefit from the additional work these nonprofits will be able to do through Festival donations.” Loudoun Cares’ mission statement is “to build and serve our Loudoun community through collaborative partnerships to meet the health and human service needs of our residents.” Legacy Farms is a “green care, social venture dedicated to providing support services and agrarian based vocational training for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as other developmental and social challenges.” Live Well Loudoun said in a press release that these organizations were picked because they best aligned to the Live Well Loudoun Festival’s mission of mindful living.

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The Evergreen Lions football program will kick off preparations for the upcoming season with player evaluations this Sunday.

HS Football Coaches Named to Evergreen Lions Board Evergreen Lions Travel Football has formed an advisory board comprised of four Loudoun County high school head football coaches. The group will mentor Lions youth players on and off the field, with the goal of better preparing them for success in the class room and in the community. The program is designed to attract the best talent and allow them to practice and compete against the best players to improve their level of play. Named to the board were Mickey Thompson of Stone Bridge High School, Brian Day of Riverside High School, Reed Prosser of Heritage High School, and Robert Lalli of Rock Ridge High School. The Evergreen Lions will conduct evaluations for the 2017 tackle football season for U9 through rising 8th

graders on Sunday, April 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. at CroppMetcalfe Park at Evergreen Sportsplex south of Leesburg. High school coaches will be helping the Lions coaches conduct the evaluations. There is no cost to participate in the evaluations, but pre-registration should be made at evergreen.football/ evergreen-lions. The Evergreen Lions are members of The Virginia American Youth Football Alliance, which includes associations from Loudoun, Prince William, Fairfax, Alexandria, Fauquier, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties. On a national level, the Evergreen Lions and VAYFA compete under American Youth Football. For more information call 703-7777800 or email evergreenlionsfootball@ gmail.com

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Saturday’s Live Well Loudoun Festival at One Loudoun will benefit Loudoun Cares and Legacy Farms, while offering lots of resources promoting healthy lifestyles. The Live Well Loudoun Festival is a free community celebration designed to give residents the opportunity to experience Loudoun-based service and product organizations that “engage the Loudoun community to live mindfully.” The festival will be held Saturday, April 22 at the fields of One Loudoun in Ashburn. The Ashburn Area Running Club races will start near the festival entrance at 8 a.m. Key festival activities will include the main stage, with performances and classes; a children’s corner; “how to” workshops; product and services exhibits; and a community stage to showcase

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W. Weller, Ashburn, Belmont Station, Cedar Lane and Dominion Trail; although, Steuart W. Weller is slated for a classroom addition in 2020 that would allow for more kindergarten slots. In the Leesburg area, the five schools facing the same constraints are: Catoctin, Lucketts, Cool Spring, Evergreen Mill and Sycolin Creek. Williams said, even when two new elementary schools open in Dulles North and Dulles South—ES-28 in 2019 and ES-31 in 2020—most elementary schools in those districts will be too full to provide full-day kindergarten. “Now, let’s talk solutions,” the superintendent said, adding that the School Board could add classroom trailers, build classroom additions, or redraw attendance zone boundaries to make more room. The school system has four classroom trailers that have not yet been assigned schools, plus it has five three-room additions included in the School Board’s Capital Improvement Program. Which schools get those additions is also a decision the board has yet to make. Williams said the School Board will also want to think about what to do for families who still prefer a half-day option for their kindergartner. One option is to consider allowing those kids to attend a full-day class for just the morning or just the afternoon. “That’s not ideal, but it is an option that parents could have,” Williams said. Following the superintendent’s presentation, most School Board members said they’d support minimal targeted boundary changes if it meant providing a full academic day to every kindergartener. “I know that boundary changes are unsettling for folks, but I think we have to do that,” Eric Hornberger (Ashburn) said. “I can’t imagine we’d leave so much space at one school and then go to Board of Supervisors and say can we build classroom additions?” Chairman Jeff Morse (Dulles) was the one board member who said he’d favor classroom additions over more boundary changes. “Our populations change so frequently, it becomes a concern if we have to keep flexing our boundaries to handle that,” he added. Almost every board member said they would not support an option for families to allow their child to attend just half of a full-day class. “I can’t imagine being that teacher who’s responsible for the student who’s missing the science lesson in the afternoon,” Jill Turgeon (Blue Ridge) said. Tom Marshall (Leesburg) went further to suggest that full-day kindergarten be the county’s new normal. “We don’t offer half-day first grade or second grade,” he said. “Why would we offer half-day kindergarten when our goal is to get to 100 percent full day? Let’s keep our focus there.” Williams told the board to expect to see a plan with more clear path going forward at a June board meeting. “That will be an action item on the agenda,” he added. “And as we move forward, we’ll have greater clarity on what exactly it will take to get us to that 100 percent goal.”

LOUDOUN NOW | NEWS |

Weekend Festival Focuses on Healthy Living

Apr. 20 – 26, 2017

Kindergarten

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Council Eyes Access Improvements

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Darcy Woessner, founder and executive director of Project Horse Empowerment Center, alongside her co-founder, Reeses. The Project Horse Empowerment Center recently moved to a new location on a farm near Lincoln.

Rescuing Horses, Healing People

Charity Offers a Different Kind of Equine Therapy BY JOHN MCNEILLY

t’s not often a charity’s founder introduces a 1,100-pound animal as a “co-founder.” But the Project Horse Empowerment Center is unique like that. The 11-year-old nonprofit equine therapy group, which brings horses and people together for a mutual journey of healing and self-discovery, recently enjoyed a major milestone. It moved into a new, state-of-the-art, leased equine facility on a large family farm along Lincoln Road south of Purcellville. Today the center, formerly located on Berlin Turnpike, serves 250 clients a year, ranging in age from 4 to 84. But the founding of Project Horse had far more humble and unexpected beginnings. The story of the Purcellville-based charity begins with Darcy Woessner, who grew up in southern Maryland surrounded by horses. She developed an affinity for them at a young age. After earning a graduate degree in business, followed by a thriving career in international commerce, the demands of her professional life became all-consuming. Horses faded into the background. The dot-com bust of the early part of the millennium opened new doors for

her, though. The company her husband worked for went under. Her consulting work for businesses and nonprofits came and went. Woessner said she began to seriously re-think her life. As part of that process, she started riding horses again and by 2006 she longed for one of her own.

She attended a horse auction, hoping to find an equine partner to ride and reconnect with. Instead, she ended up locking eyes with a badly maimed, starving, clearly neglected horse. She could not avert her gaze. Despite all the horse’s afflictions, which meant the mare was likely to be euthanized, Woessner could not overcome her feeling that the horse had connected with her on some mysterious level. “I got hit by a ton of bricks, is what happened,” Woessner said, laughing. “She was telling me something, I just didn’t know what it was.” To the sur-

Town Council meetings might not be the most exciting community happening, but Lovettsville leaders are working to make the sessions more accessible for those who are interested in following the action but can’t attend in person. On this week’s council agenda were three items aimed at helping. First, the town is considering a new service that would allow council and Planning Commission meetings to be streamed online and archived. The AV Capture would allow users to click on elements of the meeting agendas that are of interest to them and watch those sections of the meetings. Loudoun County and the Town of Leesburg already use such a system. Secondly, the town may start issuing action minutes that provide a summary of council motions and then link to audio recordings of the meetings to provide details. That’s an alternative to having the public wait for the long-form narrative minutes—which usually provide details of comments by individuals—to be compiled and approved by the council. Because the town is so far behind on completing minutes, Mayor Bob Zoldos also suggested closing the Town Office on Wednesdays until the work is caught up. That would allow several staff members to dedicate time to work.

PURCELLVILLE Reservoir Timbering Yields $205K

prise of friends and family, she brought home a lame mare who could never again be ridden. It didn’t matter, though, as Woessner soon found herself on a mission. Nearly a year passed before the horse, which Woessner renamed Reeses, got her strength back. Although she had once been competitive on the eventing circuit, a kind of horse triathlon, she’d been badly injured and cast aside. Woessner provided her proper nutrition, medical care, and lots of love and attention. As the horse’s physical being and spirit healed, Woessner discovered Reeses’s inherent sweetness, particularly her fondness for women and children, in addition to an extraordinary ability to connect with people of all walks. “It finally dawned on me why I’d gotten her. I had the perfect therapy horse,” Woessner said. “Although Reeses is a no-nonsense horse, she’s also gently maternalistic. She loves other animals and is really tuned in to their energy. And her innate abilities with humans are remarkable.” In late 2007, Woessner decided to donate the fully recovered Reeses to an equine therapy organization. Equine

The Purcellville Town Council last week approved a contract to allow Blue Triangle Hardwoods to selectively timber a portion of the town’s 1,272-acre reservoir property. The $205,522 deal is expected to boost the town’s Water Fund, helping to temper planned rate increases. The town plans to solicit bids for timbering on three other sections of the property. The selective tree cutting is conducted about once each decade in conformance with an established forest management plan. The council also is continuing talks about whether to allow public access to the property on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge. Some council members have been critical of the town’s current practice of limiting restricting access to town employees. Those advocating greater public uses have discussed everything from hunting and fishing to mountain bike trails. Among the chief concerns of those advocating the current use limits are that the town has limited access to the land via easements though private property.

PROJECT HORSE >> 28

TOWN NOTES >> 28

27 Apr. 20 – 26, 2017

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Cleaning Up Lovettsville Lovettsville Mayor Bobby Zoldos and Kris Censaul collect litter. Volunteers collected more than 10 bags of trash and 12 bags of recyclables during the Keep Lovettsville Beautiful Day cleanup April 8. Mayor Zoldos and Council members Jim McIntyre and Jennifer Jones were among the 13 volunteers who joined the effort. The town partnered with Keep Loudoun Beautiful for the event. KLB has been actively recruiting volunteers in Lovettsville for the past four years and has collected more than 300 bags of litter in the greater Lovettsville area. Town volunteers worked near the intersection of Loudoun Street and the Berlin Turnpike, the southern town entrance and the perimeter of the post office. Litter pick-up is encouraged throughout April during KLB’s spring clean-up. Go to keeploudounbeautiful.org to learn more.

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Lohr Supporters Rally Amid Concerns Over Council Review The rumor mill in Purcellville was running at high speed this week ahead of Tuesday night’s Town Council session to continue a performance review of longtime Town Manager Robert W. Lohr Jr. The council held a three-hour closed session April 11 and then called for a special meeting this week to continue the conversation. The closed-door talks have prompted a wave of concern that the region’s longest serving municipal manager could be forced out by a council now led by a majority of members who have been staunchly critical of former Mayor Robert Lazaro and actions taken by the town’s leadership over the past decade. The motion for Tuesday’s closed session stated the council would discuss Lohr’s performance, including the possibilities of demotion, discipline, or a separation agreement by retirement or resignation or other action. Lohr has served as Purcellville’s town manager since 1993. Prior to that he served as town manager in New Market for seven years. His current contract continues into 2018. Heading into Tuesday’s meeting, neither Lohr nor council members made public comments about the nature of the performance review talks. However, speculation that the town manager could be forced out prompted a crowd of 50 supporters to pack the council chambers Tuesday night. The special meeting agenda did not include a public comment period, but Mayor Kwasi Fraser said they would have an opportunity to address the council during its April 25 meeting. The Town Council has experienced a complete turnover in less than three years. Vice Mayor Karen Jimmerson and Council Doug McCollum, first elected in 2014, are the longest serving members. Four new members—Kelli Grim, Chris Bledsoe, Nedim Ogelman and Ryan Cool—took office nine months ago. Mayor Fraser is serving his second two-year term. The new council majority has been highly critical of past council actions—the blame for everything

Project Horse << FROM 26 therapy has become a widely respected and sought-after method to treat people battling mental and physical disabilities. There are seven in Loudoun County alone, according to Woessner. The trouble, at least for Reeses, was there are few, if any, that take horses that can’t be ridden. After nearly a year of trying to place the mare, Woessner finally decided to establish her own horse-based therapy center. In 2008, along with her inspirational muse, Reeses, she started Project Horse. Today, Project Horse has 11 horses, many of whom were rescued from traumatic situations and neglect. To Woessner and her two dozen volunteers—a mix of licensed therapists, equine specialists, and assistants—the group’s core mission is to provide the horses healing and a renewed sense of purpose by working with people struggling with their own traumas, mental challenges, or addictions. It’s reflected in Project Horse’s tagline: “Empowering People. Rescuing Horses. Healing Both.” Chet Hall, 81, is a testament to Project Horse’s approach. A cancer survivor, Hall recently spent a weekend at Project Horse with friends and fellow church members. His cancer treatments were physically trying, at times causing him to feel depressed and hopeless. Even as a self-described “well-grounded” person, interacting with the Project Horse animals

Danielle Nadler/Loudoun Now

The future of Town Manager Robert W. Lohr Jr. was discussed in a second closed-door Town Council session Tuesday night.

from high utility and tax rates to unwanted new development. It has been trying to wade through some of those issues in its first budget review—mainly looking for ways to raise money by selling or leasing town properties and by shifting the balance among the town’s general government and utility funds. Tensions increased in recent weeks after Grim publicly alleged she had been threatened by a town staff member. At her request, the council met in closed session twice with Lohr and Town Attorney Sally Hankins. After those talks ended with no formal action, Grim requested that the State Police conduct an

left Hall feeling rejuvenated. “We started out sitting in a circle, not talking. Just meditating quietly. A horse came and stuck her head in the middle of us, letting everyone touch her. She kept going around to everyone. She clearly wanted to be with us,” he said. “It was special. Quiet and very peaceful. Spiritually and mentally, I was uplifted.” The experience has inspired him to volunteer at an equine therapy group closer to his home in Vienna. “I think it’s great, important work and I want to help support it,” he said. Stacy Gundrum, 55, a resident of Stevens City, has no problem driving her 14-year-old daughter 45 minutes each way to Purcellville. A therapist recommended Project Horse to build the girl’s self-esteem after she was hospitalized for self-harm. A year later, she’s a Project Horse regular, visiting twice a month for hour-long sessions. She’s bonded with every horse and has been particularly drawn to one, a mare with an abused, troubled past. “When she comes home, she has a calmness and quiet about her that we’d never seen before. And she’s always eager to share with us her experiences there,” Gundrum said. “It’s been a huge boost for her confidence and ability to self-regulate.” Her daughter also draws strength knowing the center’s rescue horses are benefitting from her interaction with them. She says the mutually beneficial relationships have given her daughter a strong sense of personal empowerment. This is no surprise to Woessner, who

impartial investigation, but no other council member supported her motion. Also last month, the council requested a survey of town employees to garner other cost-saving suggestions and to learn more about their concerns. While the responses did raise some managerial criticisms— the need to improve communication among departments was a repeated suggestion—they also highlighted concerns about Town Council demands, perhaps meddling, that added to employees’ stress and workload without much public benefit. Low staff morale was cited in several comments.

Want to help? Project Horse Empowerment Center is looking for professionals in education, clinical therapy, the equine industry, nonprofit accounting, nonprofit management, local or regional politics to join its Board of Directors. A no-pressure board interest meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16. Learn more at projecthorse.org. says the organization’s goals are to help clients “build self-esteem, develop and improve interpersonal relationship skills and promote emotional healing.” The project relies on referrals from mental health professionals, psychiatrists, Loudoun County social services, schools, word of mouth, and other clients’ families. The group has also helped horses in need. In addition to the 11 rescue horses who reside at Project Horse’s farm, it has rescued, treated and released 29 horses to new and supportive homes. On a recent evening, Woessner looked out over the organization’s new space and reminisced about how naïve she’d once been about sending Reeses to another equine therapy program. As the mare and the other horses slowly worked their way in from the pastures to the barn for their evening meal, Woessner added, “Not Reeses, though. She knew exactly what she was doing. She brought us right where we need to be.”

[ BRIEFS ] << FROM 26 Mayor Kwasi Fraser established a special committee to study the issue. He and Councilman Nedim Ogelman will serve on the panel. They said the goal will be to explore all the options and report back to the full council.

MIDDLEBURG Take a Walk Around Town with Mosby The Mosby Heritage Area Association and the Town of Middleburg are planning a lantern-lit talk and walking tour of historic downtown The May 6 event begins at 7:30 p.m. and is part of the popular “Legends by Lanternlight” series hosted by the association for the past 13 years. The walking tour begins at the Middleburg Baptist Church, 209 E. Federal St. Costumed interpreters will share stories on places where the Civil War played out in the town’s historic landscape. Tickets are available at the door and they are $10 for adults and $5 for students. For more information, email kpawlak@ mosbyheritagearea.org or call 540-687-5188.

Photo essay by Douglas Graham

A rite of spring in Loudoun for more than a half century, the Loudoun Hunt Point-to-Point attracted a large Easter Day crowd to Oatlands on Sunday to enjoy a day of picnicking, socializing and horse races.

[ A LOUDOUN MOMENT ]

Apr. 20 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 26, 2017

A Day at the Races

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[ LOCO LIVING ]

Apr. 20 – 26, 2017

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Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Tammie Umbel is a mom-preneur with a nationally distributed body care line Shea Terra Organics and a homeschooling mom of 14. She's pictured on her farm near Leesburg.

Homeschool Mom and International CEO:

Tammie Umbel’s Amazing Journey BY JAN MERCKER

hink of her as Wonder Woman in a hijab. Leesburg’s Tammie Umbel is a homeschooling mom of 14 and the founder and CEO of a nationally distributed line of natural body care products. Umbel founded Shea Terra Organics in 2000 and has kept the company on a roll for 17 years while raising and educating her children, now aged 4 to 26. Umbel was an early adopter of increasingly popular natural ingredients like shea butter and argan oil. She combined her knowledge with a lifelong interest in the empowerment of people from developing countries. When she launched her business, one of her goals was to improve the lives of African women by sourcing products from that continent and fostering the creation of sustainable small businesses, while providing natural products to end users. “I wanted people to use what they had in their environments and bring those secrets to the western world,” Umbel said. “It’s got to help the people that it’s sourcing from. It’s got to help the end user—there has to be that relationship. And it has to be something that’s not going to harm the environment.” Umbel lives on a charming 10-acre farm near Leesburg with her husband, Dr. Syed Ishaq, a nephrologist practicing in Fairfax, and 11 of

Contributed

A collection of Shea Terra Organic products from Umbel's website, sheaterraoranics.com

their children who are still at home. Through the wonders of technology, along with late nights and early mornings, Umbel runs her business (her production facility is located in Sterling) and her household. Finding balance can be tough, however, and one way Umbel achieves it is by eliminating distractions and getting help from her children around the farm. “One of the major components of the company when I came up with the business model is that my children come first,” Umbel said. “We don’t have a television. … We’re constantly in motion, and my children have a lot of duties and responsibilities.” A Georgia-born descendant of Appalachian pioneers, Umbel converted to Islam in her teens after moving

to Maryland with her family. She met her husband, a native of Pakistan who came to the DC area for his medical residency, at an area mosque. Umbel, now 44, married young and had eight children by the time she launched Shea Terra at the turn of the millennium. Umbel and her husband first visited Loudoun as newlyweds while living in Arlington more than 20 years ago. She was captivated by the area’s rural beauty during a visit to Leesburg. “All you saw was green mountains, and I said ‘that’s where I want to live,’” she said. It took more than a decade for her dream to be realized, but a dozen years ago, the family made the move to Loudoun. Umbel said it’s been a welcoming home for her family, where they’re putting down roots on a num-

ber of levels. One son has been active for years in the Middleburg polo community, and several of her children have been involved with STEM programs at Northern Virginia Community College’s Loudoun campus. And while Umbel chalks up occasional acts of aggression or unkindness to her headscarf, she finds Loudoun to be a place of acceptance overall. “That’s why I’m here. One of the reasons Loudoun is so wonderful is that it’s by and large more educated and more cultured,” she said. Umbel, whose smile is radiant beneath her black headscarf on a warm spring day, said that her relationship with Islam has provided both the inspiration and much of the know-how involved with creating her business. Her introduction to women from around the world at her mosque was what initially exposed her to so many natural remedies and beauty secrets from non-western cultures. And those connections drew her to many now-popular ingredients that were less well known two decades ago. For the past 17 years, Umbel has been developing relationships with suppliers in Africa, allowing women in numerous countries to start their own businesses. One of her first products was Egyptian black seed oil, which got the company rolling, along with shea butter and henna. In 2003, she expanded the SHEA TERRA >> 34

31 Apr. 20 – 26, 2017

Girl Vision Workshop Teaches Therapeutic Photography

McCarter

She said she was a harsh self-critic as a teen, and she sees young people today struggle with the same emotions. “I work with so many teenagers from local high schools, and their self-criticism is off the charts,”

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she said. Loudoun County has seen a rise in suicides among young people, and many in the mental health community have credited it in part to the pressure teens are under to be high-achieving students. McCarter described therapy, coupled with the expressive art of photography, as being akin to airing out a stuffy room. “It doesn’t cure the self-criticism, but it helps you find a balance. It’s all about helping people find a balance between play and work and rest and criticism and self-kindness.” Julie McCarter’s Girl Vision workshop is 1-5 p.m. Sunday, April 30, and the Women’s Workshop is 1-5 p.m. Sunday, May 21, in downtown Leesburg. (Exact location will be provided to registrants.) Cost is $135, but discounts are offered on a sliding scale. No prior photography experience is necessary. Participants are asked to bring a cell phone or digital camera. Find details at juliemccarter. org/workshops.

BY DANIELLE NADLER Julie McCarter is using her experience as a professional photographer and licensed therapist to help people find healing and emotional balance through a camera lens. McCarter, who has a private practice in Lansdowne, teaches mindfulness, personal growth and expanded creativity through photography. She has two upcoming workshops: Girl Vision, for girls ages 13 and older, on April 30; and one for women May 21. Since 2014, she’s offered Girl Vision workshops, aimed at teaching teenage girls emotional wellness tools, such as mindfulness and self-compassion. “I teach teens a little about working with their inner critic, and also the flip side of that is practicing self-kindness,” she said. “I teach the visual components of expressing yourself through a photograph, and then do mindfulness walks through downtown Leesburg where they photograph images that reflect the topic that we’re covering.” She gave the example of a recent workshop where the girls were asked to snap photos of naturally occurring hearts. A few girls got creative to form a shadow of a heart using their arms and hands, and McCarter captured it in a photo. “That photo is very meaningful to me because it illustrates the reason I’m inspired to do this work, to encourage young people,” she said. She wishes she had been taught some of these tools, like self-compassion and mindfulness, at a young age.

Photo by Julie McCarter

Teens form a heart during one of Julie McCarter’s recent Girl Vision workshops. McCarter combines her work as a licensed therapist and professional photographer to teach people how to quiet self-criticism and cultivate self-compassion.

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[ THINGS TO DO ] LoCo ImprovFest Spotlights Loudoun’s Young Actors

NIGHTLIFE LOUDOUN YOUTHFEST BATTLE OF THE BANDS Friday, April 21, 7-10:30 p.m.; Tally Ho Theatre, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. Details: tallyholeesburg.com Nine of the region’s top teen bands compete for top billing at YouthFest Loudoun during the competition’s final battle. Admission is $8 at the door.

LIVE MUSIC: THE VIPS Saturday, April 22, 9 p.m.; Smokehouse Live, 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg. Details: smokehouse-live.com Four talented musicians play favorite hits from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and 2000s. Admission is $12.

LIVE MUSIC: CARBON LEAF Saturday, April 22, 7 p.m.; Tally Ho Theatre, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. Details: tallyholeesburg.com Alt-country, Celtic and folk-infused indie rock from this beloved Richmond-based quintet. Tickets are $30 in advance.

An improv comedy festival featuring teams from six Loudoun County high schools, the first event of its kind, is coming to the Franklin Park Arts Center near Purcellville. Alex Beard, youth initiative specialist for Loudoun County Parks, Recreation and Community Services, said student improv teams from Tuscarora, Loudoun County, Loudoun Valley, Potomac Falls, Dominion and Briar Woods, will all perform in a family-oriented display of spontaneous wit and merriment. “ImprovFest will be a fun showcase of each high school’s top teen comedians and improv players. It’s going to be a great night and the kids are really excited,” Beard said. The LoCo ImprovFest is one of a series of community events organized by the Youth Advisory Council, a PRCS-sponsored group of 60 high school students, also managed by Beard. The county parks and rec department, which works to establish opportunities for youth to expand their peer leadership skills, also sponsors other youth-oriented events, including Battle of the Bands (planned for Friday, April 21 at the Tally Ho Theatre in Leesburg), and an all-day Loudoun

ON STAGE

YouthFest (Saturday, June 17, at the Barn of One Loudoun). Beard said the students involved in ImprovFest will benefit from master classes taught by two well-known, professional improv/comedy performers. Chris Ulrich, a nationally recognized expert in body language and onstage physicality, and Annie Barry, a performer in the famed Upright Citizens Brigade based in Manhattan, will lead the students through a series of improv exercises and provide students with one-on-one guidance and

SIP AND GROOVE

‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ Friday, April 21, and Saturday, April 22, 8 p.m.; Sunday, April 23, 2 p.m.; Seneca Ridge Middle School, 98 Seneca Ridge Drive, Sterling. Details: sterlingplaymakers.com

LIVE MUSIC: JULIANA MACDOWELL AND TEDDY CHIPOURAS Friday, April 21, 8 p.m.; Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane Purcellville. Details: franklinparkartscenter.org MacDowell is joined by local rising star Teddy Chipouras as she celebrates the release of her new CD, “Take Me Away.” The evening includes barbecue from Monk’s, special key lime pie and a screening of MacDowell’s brand new video. Tickets are $15.

LIVE MUSIC: ANDREW MCKNIGHT AND BEYOND BORDERS Saturday, April 22, 8 p.m.; Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane Purcellville. Details: franklinparkartscenter.org McKnight is known for dynamic songwriting and eclectic arrangements, blurring boundaries between acoustic and electric, traditional and contemporary, folk and beyond. The show features Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member Les Thompson. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

WATERFORD CONCERT SERIES: RED PRIEST Sunday, April 23, 4 p.m.; Waterford Old School, 40222 Fairfax St., Waterford. Details: waterfordconcertseries.org This charismatic British baroque quartet has been compared to the Rolling Stones and Cirque du Soleil. Their Viva Baroque program intersperses Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” with a range of work from 17th and 18th Century European composers. Tickets are $35 for adults, $15 for students and free for children 12 and under.

FRANKLIN PARK BIG BAND Sunday, April 23, 4 p.m.; Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane Purcellville. Details: franklinparkartscenter.org For nine seasons the phenomenal 19-piece Franklin Park Big Band has captivated audiences with their repertoire from Benny Goodman to Maynard Ferguson. The family-oriented concert features four singers performing tunes from Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Bette Midler and Adele. Tickets are $10 per person, $30 per family at the door.

The LoCo ImprovFest will include live performances open to the public starting at 7 p.m. Friday, April 28, at Franklin Park Arts Center in Purcellville. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the box office or in advance at the venue’s website, franklinparkartscenter.org.

—John McNeilly

Enjoy tons of garden exhibits, crafts, children’s activities and food at this favorite annual festival. Suggested donation is $3 per person.

LEESBURG BEER FEST Saturday, April 22, 2-6 p.m.; Village at Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd SE #215, Leesburg. Details: greatbeerfest.com

The Playmakers present an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s famous courtroom drama, a perennial favorite for mystery fans. The April 22 performance includes sign language interpretation. Performances continue April 28-30. Courtesy of Juliana MacDowell

coaching. “This is a wonderful opportunity for young performers,” Beard said.

Courtesy of Chris Bowen

LIVE MUSIC: CHRIS BOWEN: THE BONE SHOW

This new festival features more than 75 beers and live entertainment. General admission is $39 in advance and includes a souvenir tasting glass and unlimited beer sampling. VIP tickets are $49 and offer early admission at noon.

Saturday, April 22, 1:30-4:30 p.m.; The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com

EARTH DAY AT NORTH GATE VINEYARD

This one-man band features Bowen on bass drum, tambourine and guitar playing classic rock and old and new country tunes. No cover.

Check out the winery’s LEED Gold certified tasting room, learn about environmental efforts and visit North Gate’s Monarch butterfly waystation. Crys Matthews performs from 2 to 5 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: TIMOTHY JAMES Saturday, April 22, 1-5 p.m.; Hidden Brook Winery, 43301 Spinks Ferry Road, Leesburg. Details: timothyjsongs.com James shows off his eclectic taste with tunes ranging country and Americana to rock and reggae. No cover.

LOCO CULTURE 27TH ANNUAL LEESBURG FLOWER AND GARDEN FESTIVAL Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, April 23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; downtown Leesburg. Details: flowerandgarden.org

Saturday, April 22, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; North Gate Vineyard, 16031 Hillsboro Road Purcellville. Details: northgatevineyard.com

LIVE WELL LOUDOUN FESTIVAL Saturday, April 22, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; One Loudoun, 20626 Easthampton Plaza, Ashburn. Details: livewellfestival.com This free community celebration is designed to give residents the opportunity to experience Loudoun-based products and services related to healthy, mindful living. Event includes performances and classes, a children’s corner, beer and wine garden and food.

WATERFORD 5K TRAIL RUN/WALK MORE TO DO >> 33

[ MORE THINGS TO DO ]

This event to benefit the Waterford Foundation features a scenic trail run, children’s fun run, historic village walking tours, a wildlife presentation, food and music. Entry fee is $40 for the 5K and $20 for the fun run.

BETH CHAVERIM CHAMPAGNE AND CHOCOLATE ART AUCTION FUNDRAISER

Sunday, April 23, noon-4 p.m.; Old Ox Brewery, 44625 Guilford Drive, Ashburn. Details: rotaryclubofashburnva.org The Rotary Club of Ashburn hosts its second annual cornhole tournament to benefit the club’s activities and the Loudoun First Responders Foundation. The afternoon features Old Ox beers, food and prizes. Entry fee is $50 per two-person team. Pre-register online.

COMING UP

This event benefiting BCRC’s religious school and interfaith efforts includes Champagne cocktail hour, chocolate desserts and an auction including works from Itzchak Tarkay, Peter Max and Marc Chagall. Admission is $5-$10.

LOUDOUN LYRIC OPERA ANNIVERSARY GALA Saturday, April 22, 7 p.m.; K2M Auditorium, 600 Hope Parkway SE, Leesburg. Details: loudounlyricopera.com This Italian-themed gala features a performance of Pergolesi’s “The Servant Mistress,” a three-course Italian feast and silent auction. Tickets are $65 per person or $125 per couple.

MIDDLEBURG HUNT POINT-TO-POINT Sunday, April 30, 1 p.m.; Glenwood Park, Glenwood Park Lane, Middleburg. Details: middleburghunt.com Enjoy a great day at the races and contests for best tailgate, best hat and best tie. General admission tickets are $10 per person in advance, $15 on race day. General admission parking is $5 per car in advance, $10 on race day.

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All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753.

fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov • www.fairhousing.vipnet.org

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We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap.

Saturday, April 22, 7-10 p.m.; Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation, 21740 Beaumeade Circle, Suite 100, Ashburn. Details: bcrcva.org

ASHBURN ROTARY CHARITY CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT

33 Apr. 20 – 26, 2017

Saturday, April 22, 9-11 a.m.; Waterford Old Stone School, 40222 Fairfax St., Waterford. Details: waterfordfoundation.org

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

$0 DOWn, 0% A.P.R. FINANCING FOR UP TO 60 MONTHS ON SELECT NEW KUBOTAS! * 800 East Main St. • Purcellville, VA (540) 338-7123 • www.browningequipment.com * $0 down, 0% A.P.R. financing for up to 60 months on purchases of new Kubota ZP, BX, B (excluding B26), L (excluding L39/L45/ L47), M, MH (M7), MX, M-SU, M6060/M7060, M4, M5 (excluding M5N/M5L), RB, DMC, DM, RA, TE Series equipment is available to qualified purchasers from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory through 5/31/2017. Example: A 60-month monthly installment repayment term at 0% A.P.R. requires 60 payments of $16.67 per $1,000 financed. 0% A.P.R. interest is available to customers if no dealer documentation preparation fee is charged. Dealer charge for document preparation fee shall be in accordance with state laws. Inclusion of ineligible equipment may result in a higher blended A.P.R. 0% A.P.R. and low-rate financing may not be available with customer instant rebate offers. Financing is available through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A., 1000 Kubota Drive, Grapevine, TX 76051; subject to credit approval. Some exceptions apply. Offer expires 5/31/2017. See us for details on these and other low-rate options or go to www.kubota.com for more information. Power (HP/KW) and other specifications are based on various standards or recommended practices. For complete warranty, safety and product information, please refer to the operator’s manual or consult your Kubota dealer. K1225-41-136580-1

loudounnow.com

BROWNING EQUIPMENT, INC.

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Shea Terra << FROM 30 line and started with argan oil and other products, and Shea Terra now offers more than 300 products. Shea Terra beauty products are sold in Vitamin Shoppe stores around the country and online. Umbel’s newest line, Wild Beauty, features products that are each linked to a wildlife conservation project. Umbel’s faith is intimately intertwined with her business and she attributes much of her success to divine inspiration and her mission to offer high-quality, chemical-free products at reasonable prices. “A lot of times people will tell us that our products are blessed,” Umbel said.

“There’s that component of generosity. … It’s not just about selling a product. We want you to feel loved.” When Umbel travels to meet with her suppliers, she brings her children along, and the family has traveled together to Namibia, Morocco and Egypt. It’s not always easy, she said, but it’s part of her efforts to develop an entrepreneurial spirit in her children, along with a respect for the environment on both an international and local level. Umbel and her family are also committed to efforts to bring back native plants in Virginia and preserve and protect local waterways. “I’m trying to plant those seeds in their mind,” she said. For more information on Tammie Umbel and Shea Terra Organics, go to sheaterraorganics.com

Contributed

Tammie Umbrel's faith, family and business intertwine.

Loudoun Properties Featured on Garden Week Tour

Contributed

Daffodils bloom along a pond at the Riverside on the Potomac estate near Lucketts. It is one of four private homes featured in this year’s Historic Garden Week tour.

Rockland, Murray Hill, River Farm and Riverside on the Potomac—feature historic homes and gardens. Most of the properties have earned Virginia Historic Landmark designation and/or are listed on the National Register for Historic Places. Tour proceeds fund the restoration

SUMMER CAMPS

IN TRADITIONAL JAPANESE MARTIAL ARTS 20604 Gordon Park Square #170 - Ashburn Virginia

15% OFF Register by May 31st Use code: LN15%OFF

Campers Learn: Karate

and preservation of Virginia’s historic gardens; provide graduate-level research fellowships for building comprehensive and ongoing records of Virginia’s historic gardens and landscapes; and support the mission of the Garden Club of Virginia. Tickets can be purchased online for

$35 in advance or $45 on the day of the tour. Individual home tickets are also available at each of the homes for $20. For more information about Historic Garden Week in Loudoun County, contact leesburg@vagardenweek.org or call 703-975-5815.

OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Apr. 20 – 26, 2017

Six of Loudoun County’s historic homes and gardens will be open for public tours as part this year’s Historic Garden Week in Virginia, April 23-24. The Leesburg Garden Club and the Fauquier Loudoun Garden Club this year are putting the spotlight on “Gardens Along the Potomac.” Visitors can tour Morven Park, Murray Hill, Oatlands, River Farm, Riverside on the Potomac and Rockland. Statewide, the event annually draws more than 26,000 visitors to tour homes and gardens across Virginia. This year there will be 30 tours organized and hosted by 47 garden clubs. Nearly 250 private homes, gardens and historical sites will be open. Headquarters of the Loudoun County tour will be Morven Park, a 1,000-acre historic estate and equestrian center on Leesburg’s northern edge. Once the home of former governor of Virginia, Westmoreland Davis, the iconic, pillared mansion will be open for public tours. Morven Park’s formal boxwood gardens were carefully designed and planted in the 1920s by Gov. Davis’s wife Marguerite, who was a member of the Leesburg Garden Club 100 years ago. Morven Park will open its Winmill Carriage Museum on Sunday. Oatlands Plantation will also open its gardens, portions of which were recently restored with a grant from the Garden Club of Virginia. The home is open for tours for an additional fee. The private properties on the tour—

Kobudo-(traditional weapons)

July 10-14, 17-21, 24-28 | August 7-11

call:

571-420-6758

go to: karatenova.com

loudounnow.com

Japanese brush painting Agility exercises + more! Full & Half-Day Options Ages 5-12

[OBITUARIES]

36 loudounnow.com

Marvin “Tony” Anthony Donaldson, 61, passed away on April 9, 2017. He succumbed to cancer. Tony was a resident of Madison House

in Leesburg, Virginia.

Tony was born in Washington, D.C. on October 18, 1955. He resided in Virginia from 1956 until 1977 when his family relocated to San Antonio, Texas. While living in Texas, Tony was employed at Fort Sam Houston where he worked until returning to Virginia in 1993. Tony was a successful participant in the Loudoun County Job Links program since moving to Leesburg in 1997. Many in the community will remember being greeted by Tony at the Market Street Starbucks where he was employed for 15 years until his retirement in 2014. Tony had participated many times in the Special Olympics, loved to go bowling, and enjoyed riding his bike around town. He was passionate about vintage cars, especially the ‘57 Chevy. Tony loved Leesburg and lived happily there.

Tony was preceded in death by his devoted parents Romeo and Katherine Garza and his beloved nephew, Nicholas Crisostomo. Tony is survived by his brother Victor E. Garza, Sr. (Ruth); Sisters, Rita Whiteaker, Anita Crisostomo (Cris), Denise Malakooti (Ramin); nieces and nephews, Alicia Murphy, V. Eric Garza Jr., Russell Whiteaker, Gregory Whiteaker, Lauren Crisostomo, Max Malakooti and Sasha Malakooti. Tony overcame many obstacles in his life and was an inspiration to everyone that knew him. Tony was always interested in and concerned for his family & friends. He knew no strangers, he was a friend to all he met. Those who knew him loved him, because Tony inspired great love. He exemplified this quote from Mother Teresa, “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.” Tony will be greatly missed. The family will receive friends at Hall Funeral Home of Purcellville from 6-8 p.m. on Friday April 28th. A service will be held on Saturday April 29th at the funeral home beginning at 1 p.m. Interment will follow in Ebenezer Cemetery, Round Hill, VA. In lieu of flowers a donation to the Special Olympics Virginia may be made in memory of Marvin Anthony Donaldson. sovaloudoun.org. Please visit hallfh.com to express online condolences to the family.

Matsuko Breeden, 81, of Round Hill, died April 9 at Inova Loudoun Hospital. Born Feb. 2, 1936, she was the daughter of the Eisumi Kanazawa and Mago Yamada. She is survived by her sons Mike Breeden of Round Hill and Jimmy Breeden of Winchester, five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and brothers Yoshihide Hoshino, Tsunayoshi Kanazawa, and Miaki Kanazzawa. She was predeceased by her husband James E. Breeden, granddaughter Candace Breeden and sister Miya Yamashita. Services will be held at noon Friday, April 21 at Hall Funeral Home in Purcellville, with visitation at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in the Ketoctin Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or American Diabetes Association. [Hall Funeral Home] Lester Henry Bowman, Sr., 88, a

longtime resident of Hillsboro, died April 10 at the Shenandoah Center in Charles Town, WV. He was born July 27, 1927 in Schuykil County, PA, to Henry Wayne Bowman and Beatrice (Kissinger) Bowman. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1945 and served four years on the USS Wisconsin. He worked at the Federal Aviation Center in Leesburg for 33 years. He was active with Loudoun 4-H and a vendor of fresh flowers, honey and honey vinegars, shiitake mushrooms, vegetables and fruit at farmers’ markets in the Arlington, Mount Vernon and Falls Church areas, as well as a home market at Hidden Creek Apiary in Hillsboro. He is survived by his wife of 67 years Evelyn (Maurer) Bowman; daughter Karyn Shank; and sons Lester Bowman Jr. and Douglas Bowman; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. Graveside services were held April 13 at Hillsboro Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the New Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Lovettsville. [Hall Funeral Home]

[Death Notices] Dana F. Smith, 62, formerly of Middleburg, Virginia departed this life on April 12, 2017 at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA. Those left to cherish Dana’s memory: his wife, Annie; his son: Duane; two grandsons, Myles Smith and Dylan Smith; two brothers: Garcia Smith (Millie), Vada Smith (Clyde); one sister, Paula Hughes (Charles); nieces: Taneika Goldman (King), Taree Smith, Ashley Smith, Audrey Smith; newphews: Bryan Hughes, (Princess) Stephen Gaskins, (Svetlana) Xandre Smith, Sydney Smith; two great nieces and three great nephews; He also leaves a host of aunts, uncles, other relatives and many friends, including two very special friends, Joe Trammell and Major Dedrick. Funeral services were held April 18, 2017 at Providence Baptist Church. Interment at Mt. Morris Baptist Church Cemetary, Hume, VA. [Lyles Funeral Service]

Betty J. Welty, 77, of Centreville, died April 17. She was born April 22, 1939, in White Hall, to Howard and Zola (Shanholtz) Poland. She worked as a data entry supervisor at the records room for the Fairfax County Police Department. She is survived by her daughter Mary C. Prenn, son Gregory Welty, and three grandchildren. A visitation will be held 6-8p.m. at Colonial Funeral Home in Leesburg. Services will take place there at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 21. Burial will follow in Rosedale Cemetery in Martinsburg, WV. Memorial contributions may be made to Insight Memorial Care Center, 3953 Pender Drive, Suite 100, Fairfax, VA 22030 or Capital Caring Hospice, 24419 Millstream Drive, Aldie, VA 20105. [Colonial Funeral Home] Francis Garrett Welsh, 74, of Ashburn, died April 13. He was born June 27, 1942, in Somerset, PA, to Charles A. and Eliz-

abeth Welsh. He attended the University of Dayton, served in the U.S. Army and worked for IBM as a systems engineer until his retirement. He is survived by his wife Maria L. (Arias) Welsh of Ashburn/Boynton Beach, FL; children Cristina M. Perez of South Riding, Michael F. Welsh of Boynton Beach, FL, and Theresa E. Tamboer of Bridgewater, NJ; and eight grandchildren. Funeral services will be held April 19 at St. Theresa Catholic Church at 21371 St. Theresa Lane in Ashburn with visitation at 1:30 p.m. and a funeral mass at 2:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ashby Ponds Benevolent Care Fund, 21170 Ashby Ponds Blvd, Ashburn, VA 20147 Attn: Philanthropy/BCF. [Colonial Funeral Home] To Place an Obituary, Death Notice or Memoriam Contact: Lindsay Morgan 703.770.9723

Fountains of Living Water

(Non-denomination, Full Gospel)

Meeting at: Sterling Middle School 201 W. Holly Ave. Sterling,VA 20164 Sunday 10:15am

Joseph Marshall, Jr. of Herndon, VA

departed this life on Feb. 7, 2017 at Culpeper Medical Center. Funeral services were held on Monday, April 17, 2017 at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church 6477 Lincolnia Road, Alexandria, VA 22312. Interment at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Annandale, VA. [Lyles Funeral Service]

www.fountainsoflivingwater.org (703) 433-1481 “Whoever believes in me (Jesus)... streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:38

Call To Worship In Print & In Our Online Resource Directory

Geriatric Wellness Nurse

FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORY 158 Catoctin Circle, SE • Leesburg, VA 20175

LoudounFuneralChapel.com

Part-time professionals needed to assist our staff: • Daily errands and office required • Greeting families for funeral & visitations • Evenings & weekend shifts • Lifting required • Clean driving record Please send resume to: info@loudounfuneralchapel.com or call for inquiries 703-777-6000

LoudounNow

We’ve got you covered.

Part-Time Spanish Teacher Loudoun Country Day School

Candidate must have: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Education or Spanish Experience teaching students in 3rd5th grade Passion for working with and inspiring 3rd-5th grade children

We offer benefits to fulltime employees such as health/dental insurance, vacation, simple IRA retirement. We also offer direct deposit. Please apply online at http://www.icareabouthealth.net Full-Time Small Engine Mechanic needed for a large landscape company in Leesburg, VA. • MUST have experience working on commercial lawn equipment. • MUST have own tools. We offer competitive pay, benefits and retirement. Please call Paul at 703-675-8089 or p.tilley@blakelandscapes.com

Email resume to employment@lcds.org

FULFILLMENT/ WAREHOUSE International Book Co. is seeking responsible individuals for full time warehouse positions. We offer Great pay and benefits.

In Print & Online One Low Price Email: classifieds@loudounnow.com to place your employment ad

Experience with geriatric populations is preferred. Self starter with basic knowledge of Medicare coding and billing guidelines is a plus. Ideal position for the nurse who no longer desires floor work, but who still thrives on patient interactions and helping people maintain wellness. Full-time hourly position with benefits. Please send resume to lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-726-0804 attention Lisa.

FT LPN or MA Large family practice in Loudoun County seeking FT LPN’s or MA’s for our new site located in the professional building at Stone Springs Hospital in Aldie, VA. We also have openings in our Ashburn, Lansdowne, Cornwall and Purcellville offices. Pediatric and or family practice experience preferred but willing to train the right candidate. EHR experience highly recommended. We offer health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401k and many other benefits. Please send your resume to lgray@ lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-7260804, attention Lisa.

Crossword

Help Wanted Position: Funeral Attendant

Busy Home Healthcare Agency established in 1993 with offices in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties looking for CNA, HHA or PCA. Nursing Students also Encouraged to Apply! for immediate work for all shifts.

Seeking full time RN or LPN to assist with geriatric wellness exams. This position requires travel to multiple locations in Loudoun County and the ability to utilize EMR systems and scanning programs.

Apr. 20 – 26, 2017

Employment

loudounnow.com

Resource Directory BARBER SHOP Ashburn Barber Shop 44031 Ashburn Shopping Plaza, #139 Ashburn, VA 20147 Ashburn Village Center Same Shopping Center as Old Giant, Popeye Chicken, Burger King, Kinder Care & Ashburn Service Center

$1 OFF

Any Haircut

Not valid with any other offer or discount. With coupon only. One coupon per customer.

BATHROOMS

BATHROOM REMODELING

* Bobcat Services * * Gravel Driveway Repair *

hall Trucking Br am

Start to finish / To 11/2 Weeks

540-822-9011

Tom & Kay - We do our own work / Remodeling

◆ Stone DuSt ◆ Mulch ◆ topSoil ◆ SanD ◆ ◆ light graDing ◆ graveling ◆ ◆ Drainage SolutionS ◆ Backhoe Work ◆

703.819.7391

Let us heLp you carry your Load!

Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-8pm • Sat 8am-6pm • Sun 9am-6pm

703-726-9828

www.tomandkayremodeling.com

Licensed & Insured

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

CLEANING SERVICE

Buy a Business / Sell a Business.

THE CLEAN TEAM ONE, LLC

SPOTLESS MAIDS

R&D CLEANING SERVICE, LLC

Buy a Franchise / Franchise your Business.

Let’s Have A Conversation

(703) 957-0062

TRANSWORLD Business Advisors Loudoun County, VA Local, National and International

Helping busy people conquer dirt! Residential Oeaning Services for Houses, Townhouses, and Condos Weekly, Biweekly, or Monthly. Equipment & Supplies Provided.

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Fo,� rece111e $30 off your I FIRST or THIRD

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Weekly/Bi-Weekly/Monthly Move In/Move Out Cleaning

Residential - Commercial - Move-In/Out Carpet Cleaning - Excellent Reference Reasonable Rates - Licensed & Insured FREE ESTIMATE

Reasonable Rates & Senior Discounts

Residential & Commercial Licensed • Insured • Bonded Satisfaction Guaranteed! We use our cleaning supplies FREE ESTIMATES

Marlene Vasquez (703) 303-1364

residential cleaning 1 wi ththi sAd.

703-574-2228 *Licensed & Insured*

CLEANING SERVICE CLEANING SERVICE

Email: rdcleaningserv@gmail.com R&D Cleaning Service LLC www.RDCleaningservice.com

703-554-2487

CLEANING SERVICE

Serving now in your neighborhood ✓ Weekly or Bi-weekly ✓ Monthly ✓ One-time Cleaning HOUSE ✓ Special Occassions ✓ Commercial Cleaning

CLEANING SERVICE

Sherley’s Residential and Commercial Excellent reference - Reasonable rates Free in home estimates Family Owned and Operated Licensed, Insured & Bonded 703-901-9142 www.cbmaids.com cleanbreakcleaningcompany@gmail.com

CONSTRUCTION

FAMILY OPERATED BUSINESS BONDED & INSURED

FREE ESTIMATES

Purcellville, Virginia

Improving Homes In Loudoun Since 1995 • Finished Basements • Garages • Additions • Remodeling

Call Today

For Your Free Estimate:

703.431.0565

Mark Savopoulos/Owner Licensed/Insured

Class A LIC #2705048174A

DAYCARE Wee Garden Day Care

Affordable Loving Care From an Experienced Provider Clean and Safe Home Environment CPR & First Aid Certified Excellent References

(703) 371-2527

Franciscaji72@gmail.com Located in River Point Leesburg

Good References • Good Prices We Provide The Supplies Free Estimates

$15 OFF on your second cleaning

New Customers Only • With Coupon Only Not Valid with other offers

Licensed & Insured

Call us now: 571.271.1077 • 571.271.9687

703-944-5700

Email: evelynkcarvajal@yahoo.com

karycleaning@yahoo.com

Great Service At Affordable Rates • Excellent References

CONSTRUCTION

Kenny Williams Construction, Inc.

540.338.3710

Apr. 20 – 26, 2017

BOBCAT

* Decks & Screen Porches * Additions * Fences * Garages * Finished Basements * Deck Repairs Free Estimates

703-771-8727

www.kennywilliamsconstruction.com Licensed • Insured • bonded

Serving Loudoun County for 35 years. Class A Contractor

EXCAVATING

CONSTRUCTION

CONSTRUCTION C ustom C onstruCtion A dditions • r epAirs

30 YEARS EXPERIENCE • DRIVEWAYS • EXPOSED AGGREGATE • PATIOS • FOOTINGS • SLABS • STAMPED CONCRETE • SIDEWALKS

Free Estimates

Blue Ridge Remodeling, Inc. 540-668-6522

www.brrinc.net Purcellville, VA

Since 1976 • Free Estimates Licensed & Insured

Ph: 703-437-3822 • Cell: 703-795-5621

DECKS Baker’s

DRIVEWAY REPAIR

Painting & Remodeling

Serving Northern Virginia area for over 10 years. Taking orders for spring deck projects BUILD DECKS & FENCES POWERWASHING & STAINING FREE ESTIMATES & DECK INSPECTIONS

Licensed & Insured Contractor who performs “Handyman Services, Rental & Re-sale Turnovers“ *We Accept ALL Major Cards* 571-439-5576 jbremodeling22@gmail.com

GARAGE DOORS

HAIR SALON Perm, Haircut for women, men, and children

PROFESSIONAL COLOR AND FOIL HIGHLIGHT PROM, BRIDAL, MAKEUP, UPDO

9 Fort Evans Rd. NE, Leesburg, VA 20176

(703) 443-1237

Please call KELLY for an appointment.

FREE HAIRCUT

With any Color or Hightlights (New clients only)

Resource Directory Loudoun, Virginia • 540-514-4715 Lic/Bonded & Ins.

Virginia Handyman

Home remodeling • Doors • Trim Crown Moulding • Hardwood Flooring • Tile Deck Repair • Electric • Plumbing Drywall Painting • Powerwashing $25 per estimate

virginiahandyman1775@yahoo.com

HANDYMAN Handyman Services 30 Years Experienced Carpentry • Finished Basements Plumbing • Kitchens • Electrical Bathrooms • Tiling Projects Small Additions • Decks

Call Brendan 703-402-0183

LAWN CARE

Owner: Edwin Ramirez (703) 944 - 5181 ramirezedwin80@yahoo.com

Painting & Remodeling

Serving Northern Virginia area for over 10 years. INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING ROTTED WOOD REPAIR DECKS • BASEMENTS • KITCHENS • BATHS BASEMENT FINISHING & REMODELING

Licensed & Insured Contractor who performs “Handyman Services, Rental & Re-sale Turnovers“ Taking orders for spring deck projects *We Accept ALL Major Cards*

Licensed & Insured • Reliable & Reasonable Prices

571-439-5576

HANDYMAN

LANDSCAPING

HANDYMAN All Big & Small Repairs

• Plumbing • Tile Laying & Repair • • Electrical Work • Carpentry • • Painting (inside/outside) • • Gutter Cleaning & Replacement •

FREE ESTIMATES • REASONABLE RATES

Cemil Uzun (703) 777-1429

LAWN SERVICES

jbremodeling22@gmail.com

C.L.L.

CORUM’S LAWN & LANDSCAPING • Lawn Maintanence • Landscape & Hardscape • Tree Service • Drainage Solutions • Bobcat Services Senior & Neighborhood Discounts

James Corum (540) 347-3930 or (540) 905-0706 www.corumslandscaping.com

Licensed, Bonded, Insured

Mowing As Low As $30 • Mowing • Trimming • Edging • Blowing • Mulching • Lawn Care • Core Aeration • Leaf Removal • Spring & Fall Clean-up

General Yard/Storm Clean-Up, Mowing, Mulching,Weedeating, Bush Trimming, Garden Tilling and more

Call 703-507-0451 or 703-618-0289

Ask about our annual maintenance program. Now is the time to Mulch! Licensed

Bret Flyn, Owner (703) 727-9826

flynnslawnmaintenance@gmail.com

LANDSCAPING

• Interior & Exterior Painting • Power Wash & Stain Decks • • Bathroom & Kitchen Remodeling • Finish Basements • • Electrical • Plumbing • Mailbox Replacement • • Clean Gutters • Install Crown Molding • Drywall Repairs • Exterior Rotten Wood Replacement • • Small or Large Jobs We Do It All •

MASONRY

IZP Lawn Services

Flynn’s Lawn Maintenance

Licensed & Insured

HHHHH FIVE STAR GENERAL CONTRACTOR & HANDYMAN SERVICES

HANDYMAN Baker’s

David Ratcliff • (703) 431-7185 Historic Restoration, Traditional Stone & New Construction, Brick & Stone Patios & Walkways, Outdoor Chimneys, Fire Pits & Fireplaces, Retaining Walls, Steps, Skid Steer Lot Clearing & Light Grading

RatcliffMasonry.com Licensed ■ Insured

LANDSCAPING POWERWASHING JUNK REMOVAL Roof Washing YOUR LUSH GARDEN PACK RAT HAULING get rid of the black streaks Professional, certified and experienced gardener.

Flower, Veggie, Butterfly, Native, Herb gardens, Ornamental Bushes, Design, Plant, Prune, Mulch, Maintain Low hourly rates. Pkg. avail.

703-297-9821. www.yourlushgarden.com

PRINTING LeesBurG PriNtiNG • Flyers • Labels • Note Pads • Post Cards • Business Cards

signs • Booklets • envelopes • NCr Forms • Pocket Folders •

703-777-5421 Print@CanterburyGraphics.Com

JUNK REMOVAL & DONATION SERVICES

House Washing

get rid of dirt, webs, green mildew

Wood Restoration

Licensed & Insured

APPLIANCES ELECTRONICS FURNITURE HOME / OFFICE BASEMENTS ATTICS GARAGES HOT TUBS TREE & BRUSH DUMPSTER SERVICES LANDFILL FRIENDLY - WE RECYCLE FIREFIGHTER OWNED & OPERATED

(540) 454 - 0415 PAC K R AT H AU L I N G VA . C O M

renew the look of decks & fences

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TREE REMOVAL NORTH’S TREE SERVICE & LANDSCAPING

Tree Experts For Over 30 Years Family Owned & Operated SPRING

• Tree Removal • Lot Clearing • SPECIAL • Pruning • Trimming • Clean Up • 25% OFF WITH THIS •Deadlimbing • Uplift Trees • AD! • Grading • Private Fencing • • Masonry Work • Grading Driveways •

Your Complete Tree & Landscaping Company Honest & Dependable Serv. • 24 Hr. Emerg. Serv. Satisfaction Guaranteed

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The Quickest Solution To A Problem Is To Fix It

HANDYMAN

Apr. 20 – 26, 2017

HANDYMAN

EXCAVATING

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WINDOWS & FLOORS

ROOFING

We perform the job you need, when you need it, and at the price that you can afford.

*SDVOSB* c2operations.com

703.651.6677

info@c2operations.com

Potomac Chevy Chase Window Cleaning & Floor Service Window Cleaning: By Hand, Residential Specialist, Inside / Out, Careful Workmanship. Floor Waxing: Polishing - Buffing, Burnishing, Urethane, and Polyurethane Wood Floor Finishes. Using Old Fashioned Paste Wax Method, No Dust - No Sanding Power Washing: No Damage, Low Pressure, Soft Brushing by Hand, Removes Dirt. All Work Done By Hand, Working Owners Assure Quality

(703) 777-3296

(540) 347-1674

Licensed • Bonded • Insured • 30 Years Experience • Family Owned & Operated

loudounnow.com

C2 Operations specializes in Asphalt, Slate, Flat, Metal, Cedar, and EPDM Roof Repairs and Replacements throughout Loudoun Co. and Northern Virginia. Services Include Roof Repairs • Roof Replacements • Siding Gutters • Windows • Doors Skylights & Maintenance

[ OPINION ]

loudounnow.com

Searching for Balance Fixing a fractured government is never easy or pretty. Unfortunately, Purcellville finds itself at that point.

There has been plenty of debate among entrenched political adversaries about whether some previous council, the town staff, or the current assembly is the root cause of the dysfunction. That argument will never be fully laid to rest and its continuation will only undermine the productivity of all concerned. It’s time to move beyond the fruitless effort to lay blame and instead to push ahead with tackling the challenges facing the town, its residents and its businesses. As of this writing, the status of the town manager remained uncertain. A second round of closed-door talks this week opened the door to speculation that he would be fired or that he would walk away from the post a year before his contract ends. Or he could

[ LETTERS ]

stay on in an effort to build trust between the professional staff and the elected council members. But the parties appeared far closer to a conclusion of irreconcilable differences than to a willingness to improve their marriage. Parting ways with an experienced and respected town manager won’t solve the problems about which council members are most concerned. It won’t lower the town’s debt load; it won’t give residents lower tax and utility bills; and it won’t change town policies concerning development. Those decisions rest solely with the Town Council. They always have. One thing will change if that is the resulting outcome of these talks: Council members will have no one left to point at when faced with unpopular decisions. They will own the successes and the failures. For the town, it is critical for council members to quickly find the balance that all good governments need to succeed. Judging from the size of the crowd attending Tuesday’s meeting in support of the town manager, they haven’t achieved that yet.

LoudounNow

Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC 15 N. King St., Suite 101 • Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 • Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723 Norman K. Styer Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com Danielle Nadler Managing Editor dnadler@loudounnow.com Margaret Morton Senior Writer mmorton@loudounnow.com Renss Greene, Reporter rgreene@loudounnow.com Kara C. Rodriquez, Reporter krodriguez@loudounnow.com Douglas Graham, Photographer dgraham@loudounnow.com

Contributors Caroline Boras John McNeilly Jan Mercker Advertising Director Susan Styer sstyer@loudounnow.com Display Advertising Tonya Harding Katie Lewis Classified Manager Lindsay Morgan lmorgan@loudounnow.com Production Electronic Ink Leesburg, VA 20175

Get Involved Editor: Your recent article “Housing Assessment Triggers Bigger Questions,” featured quotes from members of the Stakeholders Committee, which was created to “guide” the rewriting of Loudoun County’s Comprehensive Plan. All four members quoted in your article, are connected to the development community, (two Realtors, and two executives of land use engineering firms). My immediate reaction was to ask how much of the committee is made up of those who profit from increasing density in Loudoun? The committee’s job was to create a vision from 210 pages of comments from hundreds of residents who participated in the much touted “Envision Loudoun” process. The “Visions and Goals” that are being proposed by the Stakeholders Committee are: Make a great place, Be an economic force, Bring people and places together, Strengthen assets and Nurture people. This vision could apply to Disneyland or Manhattan! There is no objectivity here, which means there are no limits. This puts the rural west and the central transition areas of our county in real danger. As I read these goals, I was stunned. They totally fail to reflect the views of those who participated in the process. Where are the voices of those who spoke about the Transition Policy Area, of whom 81 percent were for preserving it? This vision is so vague it will permit any type and scale of development anywhere in the county. Could our historic rural villages become indistinguishable from the suburbs of eastern Loudoun? Make no mistake. It is the very future of Loudoun County that is at “stake” as this process goes forward. I hope that all concerned citizens will become involved by contacting the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors—bos@ loudoun.gov, 703-777-0115), PO Box 7000, Leesburg VA, 20177—and urging them to reject these goals. Only with community involvement can we save the Loudoun we know and

love. We all need to get involved, or we will end up with a plan that will open central and western Loudoun to high density development all the way to the West Virginia border. — Nancy Ryan, Aldie Transition Area Alliance

Not Interested? Editor: I was one of the many people who participated in the #ResistRecess in front of Representative Barbara Comstock’s office from April 10 to April 14 requesting an in-person town hall. She is my representative and has not represented me on the pressing issues of climate change, making the United States truly energy independent with widely distributed solar and wind, protecting the wildlife and wild places that are uniquely American, and protecting clean air, clean water and a livable planet for future generations. Rep. Comstock’s stance on environmental and conservation issues are not for the benefit of anyone who owns private property, such as the farmers of western Loudoun, Clarke and Frederick counties, as it allows for eminent domain for the private gain of fossil fuel industries. She is not interested in the people whose very livelihood depends on clean water, as demonstrated by her vote to allow mining companies to dump toxic waste into that water. Her claim during previous phone town halls that she has the interests of people like myself, who work in the government and defense industries, in mind, rings false when she will not heed reports from the Department of Defense that climate change is and will continue to be a significant national security concern. She ignores the interests of small business owners and elderly of her district when she knows full well that if there was a natural disaster in the district, which is becoming increasingly likely as abnormal weather events become more routine, they would be the most affected. How can she not use all LETTERS >> 41

[ LETTERS ] the political power at her disposal to protect them and the rest of us with them? Perhaps it is because few of the people of the 10th District have her attention on environmental issues. Perhaps the entities she takes direction from are in Texas and New York, from where OpenSecrets.org shows she has received significant donations. Maybe it’s of the many financial institutions also listed on that site. Perhaps they are law firms, like Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, for fossil fuel companies, like Chevron. I can understand how holding a town hall would not be her favorite part of the job. However, she actively sought this position and has a responsibility to work for the best interests of current and future voters of the 10th District. The following is a quote from Republican President Teddy Roosevelt. He established the US Forest Service and had this to say: “We have become great because of the lavish use of our resources. But the time has come to inquire seriously what will happen when our forests are gone, when the coal, the iron, the oil and the gas are exhausted, when the soils have still further impoverished and washed into the streams, polluting the rivers, denuding the fields and obstructing navigation.” I strongly urge the representative to hold a town hall and explain her votes and stance on environmental issues. — Amanda Tandy, Leesburg

Editor: Congratulations to the best hometown newspaper staff in Loudoun County for being recognized by the Virginia Press Association with (16) awards in a wide variety of categories. The awards confirm what many of Loudoun Now readers already knew, that hometown news reported with accuracy, timeliness and objectivity, not opinion, always results in recognized excellence. There are only four words in the English language that end in “ous” and two of them are tremendous and stupendous, both of which accurately describe Loudoun Now. It was truly appreciated by this old state newspaper editorial writer that Publisher and Editor-In-Chief Norman Styer was recognized with a first prize for his timely and to-the-point editorials each week. Editorials are meant to bring attention to issues many talk about but few in a position to address the issue ever do. In this sense, editorial writer Styer hits a home run every week. When Loudoun Now first published in 2015 it reflected the professionalism and experience of the staff. Since that time folks all over Loudoun County have come to realize that the success of Loudoun Now, which has now drawn the recognition of the Virginia Press Association, can be credited to a staff knowing how important teamwork is. The results announced also recognize the creation of this teamwork and the motivation to seek excellence. An example of outstanding edito-

rial writing appeared in last week’s Loudoun Now as Editor Styer addressed the continuing shenanigans of the Loudoun County School Board. In the old days when school boards did not get their way they threatened to close the school library or do away with popular sports. Now, we have the Loudoun School Board threatening to close some “small” schools. Rather than threaten, now the School Board should submit an annual budget that is crystal clear, free of buried budget items and full explanations of who, what and where. Hats off to Norman Styer and his entire staff. You continue to bring Loudoun County readers a better and better hometown newspaper we can all enjoy, respect and look forward to each week. — Lou Gros Louis, Lansdowne

A Reward Editor: When planning new construction, developers are very cost sensitive. They want to provide what people want, but at the lowest possible cost. Last week’s article, “Commission Presses for Two-Over-Two Standards,” discusses the trend in two-over-two residential units, or stacked townhouses, and standards that the Leesburg Planning Commission is considering. For those who know me, it is not a surprise for me to write about energy and environmental matters. Almost everything I do is and has been about those matters. Striving for the best in energy and environment in our gov-

ernments is hard work and often is opposed by those with competing financial interests. But here is a chance for the Town of Leesburg to make a difference. In planning for accommodating more homes, planners and developers would win my heart more if they were to plan for the most energy-efficient homes. And that would involve homes that can use water-cooled heat pumps. Besides very high energy efficiency, they don’t require the outside condenser. Therefore, they are much quieter than the more common aircooled heat pumps. And just as with all heat pumps, there is no requirement for a boiler or furnace. To sum it up, water-cooled heat pumps are less expensive to operate, very environmentally friendly and very quiet. And can be planned into the two-over-twos. So, Leesburg Planning Commission and Town Council, consider ways to reward developers that use water-cooled heat pumps in construction. Those future residents definitely will be rewarded with lower utility bills. — Kevin Chisholm, Leesburg

Share Your Views Loudoun Now welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should include the name, address and phone number of the writer and should be a maximum of 500 words. Letters may be sent by email to letters@loudounnow.com or by mail to PO Box 207, Leesburg, VA 20178

Hats Off

Apr. 20 – 26, 2017

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Last Chance to Save Old Sterling

• IN

p to the early 1950s, before the development of Sterling Park, when Dulles Airport was only an idea on a drawing board, residents of the village of Sterling—approximately 220 people—went about their lives pretty much like residents of the other small towns in Loudoun. Washington, DC, just 30 miles away, could, until 1951, be reached by riding on the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad. However, at that time, there wasn’t much commuting to jobs in the metropolitan area. Sterling folks needing to transact government business would motor down mostly unpaved Church Road, two-lane Sully Road (Rt. 28), and make their way to Leesburg via two-lane Rt. 7. Everyday needs were met right in Sterling, where grocery and clothing stores, a meat market and post office served this farming community. Once Sterling Park, Dulles Airport and new highways began to emerge, however, everything changed. For a while, the railroad remained in operation by transporting construction materials for the airport; but Sterling village (known as Guilford Station), once a “pearl” in the W&OD “string of pearls” from Alexandria to Bluemont, was overwhelmed by new residential and commercial development. As a consequence of the unrelenting development, most of the old business

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establishments, old houses and other buildings were demolished. Most prominent among them was the historically significant 1897 Sterling Methodist Church, leveled in 2017 to make way for a commercial storage business. Earlier, the railroad depot was dismantled in the early 1940s, and a house-turned-hotel that locals nicknamed the “Summer White House” (owned by the Summers family) was destroyed by fire in 1985. Reportedly, President James Buchanan

BACK

Apr. 20 – 26, 2017

BY BILL EWING AND MARK GUNDERMAN

and his family sojourned there in 1859 and 1860. There are survivors, but preservation activity was sparse until late 2015, when residents and business owners came together, initially to try to save the Sterling Methodist Church building. One of the prime preservation movers is Save Old Sterling, a nonprofit organization formed to rescue remaining historic remnants of old Sterling. For example, before the church was razed, SOS employed Salvagewrights of Orange, to re-

YARD

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move the flooring, siding and windows. They are now safely in storage, awaiting incorporation in another (new or old) local building. As one of its principal objectives, SOS advocates preservation of several standing structures, including the 1879 two-room schoolhouse (1000 Ruritan Circle), a historic treasure and the first schoolhouse in Sterling. For many years, it was the community’s center of education. Because the property is for sale, the schoolhouse’s situation is tenuous. SOS has determined that this building is the most important to preserve. The 1857 Guilford Baptist Church is now an Ethiopian Orthodox Church. It was one of the churches lining the road that inspired the name Church Road. The 1860s Sexton/Grooms House (1006 Ruritan Circle) is now home to Mona’s Lebanese Café and “Guilford Station Arts.” This adaptive reuse preserves the building while making it relevant in 2017. The Southern States building, or Old Sterling Warehouse, is on Ruritan Road next to the W&OD Trail. Its size, configuration and location clearly evoke W&OD history. Currently, this structure houses several businesses. The Sterling Mercantile Store most recently was a lawnmower repair shop; before that, a grocery. Guilford maps mark this location as “Tavenner’s Wheelwright Shop” or “Thompson’s Saddlery.” The original building apOLD STERLING >> 43

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<< FROM 3 the Loudoun Gateway Station. So far, the county is planning for mixed-use residential development around the Ashburn Station further west near the intersection of the Greenway, Mooreview Parkway, and Ashburn Village Boulevard, and primarily commercial development around Loudoun Gateway, at the northern edge of Dulles Airport. A third Metro stop in Loudoun will be near the Dulles Airport terminal. Some commissioners said the county is being too cautious around the airport, setting residential further back than adopted noise contours call for. “I guess they’re [the airport] looking out for their own interests, but I really think the county needs to look out for its best interests,” Keirce said. “And if you’ve read the papers recently, they’ve just announced projects that they’re going to try to build to compete with Loudoun County on property, so the airport, I guess, wants to have their cake and eat it too.” MWAA recently announced that it would be moving ahead with plans to open up more than 500 acres of airport property at Dulles to development. It has targeted that property for airport-compatible commercial and industrial uses. Commissioner Fred Jennings (Ashburn) said he agrees that the county should keep residential outside the airport’s delineated high-noise contours, but not further away than that.

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Bill Ewing is, with Jackie Anderson, cofounder of Save Old Sterling (SOS). Mark Gunderman has written extensively about Loudoun historic preservation issues, particularly involving churches. For more information about SOS and the Loudoun Design Cabinet, go to saveoldsterling.org and biz. loudoun.gov/designcabinet, respectively. In Our Backyard is compiled by the Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition, loudouncoalition.org.]

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pears to be very old and in fragile condition. Preservation of what remains of Guilford was endorsed in 2009 by the William and Mary Center for Archeological Research, which noted that “Ruritan Circle was bypassed by [major thoroughfares], essentially preserving the tiny community.” The center concluded that Guilford Station should be preserved as “a compact, railroad-oriented, late nineteenth-century village [embodying] regional vernacular architectural trends.” The center added, “The handful of historic buildings clustered along Ruritan Road and Ruritan Circle are an increasingly rare reminder of the rapidly dwindling history of the area and are becoming increasingly threatened by development pressures.” While recognizing that physical restoration and adaptive reuse of existing buildings is a priority, SOS recommends new construction to revitalize Guilford Station as a “Grandfather Village”—a town in which your grandfather might have grown up. Such a concept is under discussion by the Loudoun Design Cabinet, a group operating under the auspices of Loudoun County’s Department of Economic Development. The cabinet essentially is a think tank of about a dozen architects, engineers, planners and designers who meet in a “charrette” format to brainstorm development concepts that might benefit the county. In two meet-

ings held since mid-February 2017, the group began to consider how Guilford Station might be preserved and rejuvenated, offering their thoughts to affected property owners, community members and local preservation organizations (including SOS). To be considered at future charrettes is the cabinet’s tentative vision: a walkable, bicycle-accessible commercial district, including a two-to-three-block business area, parking spaces, green area such as a park along the W&OD Trail, and a community center. SOS, of course, would strongly advocate incorporation in the community center of the salvaged Methodist Church materials. We have one last opportunity to rescue the small fragment of old Sterling we call Guilford Station. Bringing to fruition what the Loudoun Design Cabinet even preliminarily envisions would create a lasting asset for Sterling, Loudoun County and Virginia.

43 Apr. 20 – 26, 2017

Old Sterling

“We really can’t afford, in my view, to park more land in non-residential mode than is absolutely necessary,” Jennings said. “The other element to keep in mind is, while the 606/Loudoun Gateway Station is there, with all due deference to [MWAA], their expansion plans to me have a little bit of suspicion.” Commission Chairman Jeff Salmon (Dulles), however, said changing those plans right now is not necessary. He argued that county projections show the tax district set up to pay for the county’s financial obligation to Metro will already work without adding more residential into the mix. “Why get even closer to the 65 LDN if you don’t have to?” Salmon said. “And I think at this point, based on the numbers, I don’t think we have to. That being said, if in 10 years, 15 years, when we find out that for some reason that numbers aren’t working out—or probably more realistically the financial requirements to pay for the Metro’s operating costs are going to go higher—then it’s a great opportunity to look at the Loudoun Gateway Station again.” The commission has now wrapped up months of work on the county’s Silver Line-area comprehensive plan amendment. The Board of Supervisors will pick up the work with the commission’s recommendations. The comprehensive plan amendment is running in parallel to Envision Loudoun, the county’s ongoing effort to revise its overall comprehensive plan.

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